Both the Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz are rolling heading into their Wednesday night showdown in Salt Lake City. The Clippers have won five of their last six, while the Jazz have won seven in a row.
Which of these two teams will stay hot here? You’ll have to keep reading our free NBA picks and predictions for Clippers vs. Jazz to find out.
Clippers vs Jazz odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
The Jazz were favored by 9 when this game first hit betting markets, but they’re now laying 9.5 on nearly every sportsbook. The total, which opened at 216, is now at 217.5 and looks like it could be going up even more.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
Clippers vs Jazz predictions
Predictions made on 12/15/2021 at 11:45 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
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Clippers vs Jazz game info
• Location: Vivint Arena, Salt Lake City, UT
• Date: Wednesday, December 15, 2021
• Tip-off: 10:00 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN
Clippers vs Jazz betting preview
Injuries
Clippers: Paul George F (Questionable), Jason Preston G (Questionable), Nicolas Batum F (Questionable), Kawhi Leonard F (Out).
Jazz: Udoka Azubuike C (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Clippers are 4-1 ATS in their last five games as underdogs. Find more NBA betting trends for Clippers vs. Jazz.
Clippers vs Jazz picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Spread analysis
Last year, the Clippers eliminated the Jazz from the playoffs without Leonard on the floor. It was a shocking turn of events after Utah dominated the regular season and had people questioning whether or not this Jazz team can ever be taken seriously again. For what it’s worth, Utah is once again one of the best teams in the Western Conference and the team did make improvements to its roster in the offseason — with the signing of Rudy Gay being one that particularly impacts this matchup. However, Clippers head coach Ty Lue has found ways to beat Utah before, and he should make them competitive against them here.
What ultimately ended up being the blow to the Jazz in the playoffs last year was the Clippers playing a five-out offense on the perimeter, which pulled Rudy Gobert away from the paint. The Jazz tried to hide Gobert on Terance Mann in the series, but Mann punished them by drilling corner threes and attacking closeouts when Gobert opted to get out on his jumper. With Gay in the mix, Utah does have a small-ball five to turn to if Quin Snyder opts to take Gobert off the court. However, it’s hard to actually envision him making that move in a regular-season game.
Even if Snyder does opt to make some of those crucial changes, it might not be quick enough to allow the Jazz the time required to win by double digits. Paul George’s status is a question mark, so it would be hard for the Clippers to keep this super close without him. But taking the points still seems like the right play.
Prediction: Clippers +9.5 (-106)
Over/Under analysis
The Over is 5-1-1 in the last seven games played between these teams and the Clippers are going to want to play at a fast pace. In last year’s playoffs, Los Angeles upset Utah by spreading the floor and not allowing the Jazz to play their dominant brand of Gobert-led basketball on the defensive end. Los Angeles hit an insane amount of threes in that series, and it will take a similar effort for the team to be competitive in this one. The Clippers might not ultimately be successful, but simply trying will make the Over the more likely bet to win on the total.
For what it’s worth, the Over is 13-5 when Utah is coming off back-to-back games of blowing opponents out by 20 or more points since Snyder took over as head coach. When the Jazz offense gets going, it’s hard to stop them.
Prediction: Over 217.5 (-110)
Best bet
The Clippers are 5-1-1 against the spread in their last seven games against the Jazz, and a lot of that has to do with Los Angeles upsetting Utah in last year’s postseason. And while Utah really should get revenge on Los Angeles and win this game outright, it is somewhat difficult to envision the team doing so in convincing fashion.
Under Ty Lue, the Clippers are 12-8-1 against the spread when playing elite competition that wins at least 70% of its games. Also, Los Angeles has the blueprint for how to give Utah trouble. Even though the Clippers are banged up, they still have the ability to play Gobert off the floor by going small. It might not be as successful as it was in the playoffs, but this spread still seems way too large.
Pick: Clippers +9.5 (-106)
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