The Utah Jazz (17-14) battle the Milwaukee Bucks (20-8) at Fiserv Forum Saturday. Tip from Milwaukee is set for 8 p.m. ET.
The Jazz beat the New Orleans Pelicans 132-129 in overtime Thursday, covering as a 1-point home underdog. With the against-the-spread (ATS) win, Utah pushed its record to 18-13 ATS. The Jazz have now covered 3 straight games and are 6-4 ATS over their last 10.
The Bucks were thrashed 142-101 by the Memphis Grizzlies Thursday, falling well short of covering as 3-point road underdogs. Milwaukee’s ATS record is 15-11-2 and it is 4-4-2 ATS over its last 10. Milwaukee’s strength is defense as it allows 4th fewest points per game in the NBA (108.8).
- Moneyline (ML): Jazz +150 (bet $100 to win $150) | Bucks -175 (bet $175 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Jazz +4.5 (-115) | Bucks -4.5 (-105)
- Over/Under (O/U): 229.5 (O: -115 | U: -105)
Jazz at Bucks key injuries
Jazz
- G Collin Sexton (hamstring) out
Bucks
- F Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) questionable
- G Jrue Holiday (non-Covid illness) probable
- G Khris Middleton (knee) out
For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.
Jazz at Bucks picks and predictions
Prediction
Bucks 114, Jazz 112
Moneyline
PASS.
I like the Jazz (+150) to cover but am not confident enough to play them straight up. Look to the points for value.
Against the spread
BET JAZZ +4.5 (-115).
The Jazz continue to shock NBA fans and are one of the best ATS teams in the league, covering their last 3 outings.
They’ve done that by their highly efficient offense, ranking 2nd in points per game (117.9), 9th in field goal percentage (47.6%) and 7th in three-point percentage (37.0%).
They also have elite 3-point defense, ranking 3rd in opponents’ three-point shooting (33.7%). The Jazz are 9-6 ATS on the road as well, one of just 11 teams with a road-covering record better than .500.
With the Bucks’ 2nd-best offensive option injured and their 2 other stars both showing up on the injury report, I would be hesitant to back them here BET JAZZ +4.5 (-115).
Over/Under
LEAN UNDER 229.5 (-105).
The combination of Sexton and Middleton being out should hurt the offensive firepower in this game.