San Antonio Spurs at Utah Jazz NBA Picks & Predictions 12/21/2017

Thursday, December 21, 2017

Vivint Smart Home Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The San Antonio Spurs travel to Vivint Smart Home Arena to play the Utah Jazz on Thursday, December 21, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has San Antonio as 4 point favorites.

The Spurs head into this matchup with a mark of 21-10. They are 2nd in the Southwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 3.4 as they are averaging 101.5 points per contest while giving up 98.1 per game. The Jazz have an overall mark of 14-17. They currently are 5th in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 102.9 points per contest and giving up 100.8, which is a point differential of 2.1.

Valuable San Antonio Spurs Betting Trends

The San Antonio Spurs are 15-15-1 against the spread

The San Antonio Spurs are 13-18-0 against the over/under

Important Utah Jazz Betting Trends

The Utah Jazz are 17-14-0 against the spread

The Utah Jazz are 16-14-1 against the over/under

Key San Antonio Spurs Injuries

12/19/17 G Danny Green Groin is upgraded to probable Wednesday vs Portland
12/19/17 SF Kawhi Leonard Rest is OUT Wednesday vs Portland
12/19/17 G Kyle Anderson Knee is upgraded to probable Wednesday vs Portland
12/19/17 PG Tony Parker Rest is OUT Wednesday vs Portland

Key Utah Jazz Injuries

12/19/17 G Donovan Mitchell Toe is "?" Wednesday vs Oklahoma City
12/19/17 PG Raul Neto Concussion is downgraded to OUT Wednesday vs Oklahoma City
12/18/17 F Derrick Favors Head is "?" Wednesday vs Oklahoma City
12/16/17 C Rudy Gobert Ankle is out indefinitely
10/06/17 PG Dante Exum Shoulder is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Pau Gasol comes into this contest averaging 10.2 points per game while playing 24.5 minutes per night so far this season for the Spurs. He pulls down 7.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage is currently at 83%. LaMarcus Aldridge averages 22.3 points per game in 33.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2 assists per contest and 8.4 rebounds per game for San Antonio. His field goal percentage is 49% for the year while his free throw percentage is 85%.

Player Spotlight

Rodney Hood averages 17.6 points per game while playing 28.3 minutes per contest this year for the Jazz. He grabs 2.6 rebounds per game and has 2 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage currently is at 88%. Donovan Mitchell averages 17.7 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 3 rebounds per contest and 3.4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

San Antonio averages 101.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 25th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 3.35 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 15th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 19th in the league. They average 44.5 rebounds per game and 22.4 assists per game, which ranks them 10th and 17th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 22nd with 14.2 per game. The Spurs allow 98.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 1st in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 35% average from behind the arc, ranking them 12th and 7th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 41.3 rebounds a game which ranks 6th and they give up 21 assists per contest, which puts them in 6th place in the league. They force 14.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 10th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Utah is 22nd in the league with 102.9 points per game this year. They are 16th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 2.06. They shoot 39% from 3-point range, which is good for 3rd in the NBA. They are 26th in the league in rebounding with 40.4 boards per game, and 21st in assists per contest with 21.7. The Jazz are 18th in turnovers per game with 14.6. The Jazz surrender 100.8 points per contest, which ranks them 5th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 14th and 22nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 2nd with 19.4 assists allowed per contest and 17th with 43.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Jazz are 27th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 16.1 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Spurs are 15th in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.4, and their defensive rating of 103.8 is ranked 28th. In terms of pace they are 29th in the league with 94.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 51% is 19th. As a team they are 19th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shots, ranking 24th in the league. San Antonio is 22nd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.6 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 51%, which is 23rd in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Utah is 15th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 18th in the NBA. The Jazz are 13th in the league in defensive rating with 105.5, and their offensive rating of 107.6 is ranked 23rd. They are 27th in the NBA in pace with 95.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 10th. As a unit they are 8th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 8th in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Spurs/Jazz NBA game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Utah +4

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