The Utah Jazz (8-9) square off with the Sacramento Kings (9-8) at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The game starts at 9 p.m. ET on Wednesday, November 21, 2018.
Utah is a 9.5-point favorite on the opening line, while the game’s Over/Under (O/U) opened at 220 points.
Sacramento Kings vs. Utah Jazz Betting Prediction
The Kings come in on a high note after beating the Oklahoma City Thunder in their last game, 117-113, as 5-point underdogs. The game’s combined points (230) finished just over the projected point total of 227.5. The Kings held the Thunder to an offensive rebounding percentage of 22.4 (below their season average of 28.7) and an effective field goal percentage of 0.472 (below the 0.535 mark opponents have averaged against Sacramento this season). Sacramento was lifted by Marvin Bagley III, who finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
In the Jazz’s previous outing, they were blown out by the Indiana Pacers, 121-94, despite being 4-point favorites. The total points for the game (215) were over the projected point total of 206. Indiana’s rebounding was their biggest strength. The Pacers had more offensive rebounds (11 vs. three) and total rebounds (44 vs. 36). Utah’s Ricky Rubio put together a good performance, leading both teams in scoring with 28 points on 10-for-13 shooting.
This has potential to be a sloppy game for the offense of Utah. Utah ranks 24th in the league in ball protection (turnover percentage of 15.0 percent), while the pesky defense of Sacramento forces the sixth-most turnovers in the league (15.3 percent). It will also be a matchup of opposite tempos as the fast-breaking Kings rank fourth in possessions per game, while the more half-court oriented Jazz rank 25th.
Sacramento holds records of 9-8 straight up (SU) and 10-7 against the spread (ATS). Vegas has a tendency to place the total low when the Kings are playing, as 10 of their 17 games have finished over the total.
Meanwhile, Utah owns records of 8-9 SU and 8-9 ATS. Games including the Jazz also have typically gone over the total (64.7 percent).
This is the second game of the season between these two teams. In the first, the Kings lost 123-117 but covered as 8.5-point underdogs. Willie Cauley-Stein put up 23 points and 7 rebounds. The game finished with a total of 240 points, which was 34.5 points above the projected point total of 205.5 points. The Jazz made 28 of their 38 free throws (73.7 percent) and had a better offensive rebounding percentage (13.5 vs. 11.4).
Kings vs. Jazz Free Pick
NBA Prediction: SU Winner – Jazz, ATS Winner – Kings, O/U – Over
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Notes
Betting Notes:
Sacramento ranks seventh in steals per game (8.5) while Utah ranks 27th in steals allowed per game (8.8).
Utah averages 48.11764705882353 points in the paint per game, which ranks 11 in the league. Sacramento ranks 27 in points allowed in the paint per game (52.470588235294116).
The Jazz rank 3 in blocks allowed per game (4.235294117647059) while the Kings rank 18 (5.470588235294118).
Utah is 3-3 ATS at home, while Sacramento is 4-5 ATS on the road.
Bettings Trends:
Over its last five games, Sacramento is 2-3 ATS with 3 overs and 2 unders.
Utah is 2-3 ATS with 3 unders and 2 overs over its last five games.
The Kings’ average margin of defeat in their last five games has been 6.8, up from 2.2 for the season.
During their last five games, the Jazz have scored an average of 92.6 points per game (13.4 below their season average) and allowed an average of 105.2 points per game (3.3 below their season average).
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