The Portland Trail Blazers (2-2) and Utah Jazz (2-1) meet Wednesday at Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Trail Blazers vs. Jazz odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.
2024-25 season series: Split 2-2
Portland beat the Los Angeles Lakers 122-108 Monday, covering as a 3-point favorite with the Over (228) hitting. The Blazers forced 25 turnovers and held L.A. to under 30 points in each of the first 3 quarters. Portland has put up at least 120 points in each of its 2 wins this season.
Utah escaped with a 138-134 OT win over the Phoenix Suns Monday, covering as a 2-point favorite with the Over (229.5) cashing. F Lauri Markkanen had 51 points and 14 rebounds, helping the Jazz overcome a 19-turnover outing. The Jazz also dominated the glass in the win, outrebounding the Suns 64-48 and hauling in 28 offensive boards.
Trail Blazers at Jazz odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:35 a.m. ET.
Moneyline (ML): Trail Blazers -150 (bet $150 to win $100) | Jazz +125 (bet $100 to win $125)Against the spread (ATS): Trail Blazers -3.5 (-105) | Jazz +3.5 (-115)Over/Under (O/U): 234.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)Trail Blazers at Jazz key injuries
Trail Blazers
G Scoot Henderson (hamstring) outG Damian Lillard (Achilles) outF Matisse Thybulle (hip) questionable
Jazz
G Isaiah Collier (hamstring) outF Georges Niang (foot) outC Jusuf Nurkic (hip) questionable
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Trail Blazers at Jazz picks and predictionsPrediction
Trail Blazers 119, Jazz 117
PASS.
I lean toward the Blazers to win as -150 favorites, but I do not trust them enough to risk backing them against a very solid Jazz team.
Much of Portland’s offensive success will ride on G Shaedon Sharpe. However, he is averaging 16.8 points per game (PPG) on just 30.7% shooting from the field, including 16.7% from deep. With his struggles and the Jazz overperforming right now, this play is too risky, so pass and bet the spread and/or total instead.
BET JAZZ +3.5 (-115).
Utah is the slightly better team offensively, as the Jazz are averaging 123.7 PPG to Portland’s 120.5, but Utah’s real advantage comes in the turnover category. The Jazz have one of the best turnover differentials in the league at +2.3, while Portland has the worst at -5.5. That advantage is massive; look for Utah to get out in transition and score a lot of easy buckets to keep this one close.
Be aware that Portland is 4-0 ATS this season.
LEAN OVER 234.5 (-115).
The Over has hit in 3 of Portland’s first 4 games to start the season and is 2-1 for Utah this season. Both squads are solid offensively, and both have offenses that don’t rely too heavily on iso scoring, making these teams tougher to guard. With both teams mostly healthy and the momentum that each brings into this matchup, look for the Over to hit.
This is a slight lean because these are both squads that pride themselves on the defensive end, so this could very well be a slower, more defensive-oriented matchup, with the Under cashing.
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