Jazz vs Clippers Odds: Bet On Heavily-Favored Los Angeles
Slumping Utah Takes On Hot Clippers
The LA Clippers are trying to get to playing their best basketball with the postseason fast approaching, and they seem to be doing that, despite the absence of their best player. Kawhi Leonard will sit out yet again on Friday night when the Clippers host the Utah Jazz, but Los Angeles has still won four of its last five, including a win over the defending champion Denver Nuggets on Thursday night.
The win gave Los Angeles a two-game edge on the Dallas Mavericks for fourth place in the Western Conference standings, bringing homecourt advantage in the first round of the postseason. Utah doesn’t have the postseason on its mind, as the Jazz have dropped 10 straight and have many of their main players sitting out with NBA injuries.
The Jazz vs Clippers odds reflect the teams’ different paths, with Los Angeles giving 12.5 points on a point-spread wager. The over/under for this contest has been set at 223.5 points.
Jazz vs Clippers 
Records: Utah Jazz (29-47) vs LA Clippers (48-28)
Location: crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, Calif.
Day/Time:
Streaming: NBA League Pass
Jazz Playing Out The String
Utah management doesn’t seem to be making any bones about its desire not to win any more games this season. That, or the Jazz, have hit a horrible string of luck when it comes to injuries to top players. For Friday’s contest, Utah will be without Lauri Markkanen (23.2 points, 8.2 rebounds), Jordan Clarkson (17.1 points, 5.0 assists) and John Collins (15.1 points, 8.5 rebounds), three of its top four scorers. It’s one of the reasons the team’s NBA results of late have all been losses.
The team’s second-leading scorer, Collin Sexton, has been left to carry the offense. He’s averaging 18.8 points on the season but upped that to 22.5 points in March. He had 19 points and seven assists in a loss to Cleveland on Tuesday, though he also turned the ball over seven times.
Clippers Turning It On For Playoffs
The Clippers seem to be a forgotten team when the NBA betting lines for the Western Conference title are made. Teams below Los Angeles in the standings get more talk about possible runs to the NBA Finals, but the Clippers continue to be a veteran squad that could make some noise if it can be healthy for the postseason.
Even without Leonard available, the Clippers can put Paul George (22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds), James Harden (16.7 points, 8.5 assists), and Russell Westbrook (11.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.4 assists) in their lineup, with any of them capable of taking over a game. George was the leading scorer in Thursday’s win over the Nuggets, scoring 28 points.
Harden had 20 points, eight assists, and six rebounds in the win, which came after the Clippers overcame a 17-point deficit. That inconsistency can plague the team, but they should have no trouble against the short-handed Jazz.
Clippers Cruise To Easy Win
The Jazz just aren’t the same team that has split the first two matchups with the Clippers this season. Utah will put forward a good effort, but it just doesn’t have the talent needed to keep up with Los Angeles at this point.
Look for this game to be decided quickly, as the Clippers want to get some rest for their stars on the second night of a back-to-back. We like Los Angeles to easily cover the 12½-point spread, and the over should also be one of your top NBA picks today.
Jazz vs Clippers Odds
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