Beating the Pistons may be the present NBA standard, but there is a bit of emotional risk for any team playing Detroit these days. No one wants to be the team to snap this 25-game losing streak.
The Utah Jazz certainly did not want to be that on Thursday, even as they reached tip-off as underdogs.
And as absurd as it sounds, beating the Pistons may have set up Utah for a letdown moment tonight against the Toronto Raptors. Read on as we dissect the latest NBA odds for Jazz vs. Raptors in our free NBA picks and predictions.
Jazz vs Raptors odds
Jazz vs Raptors predictions
The Utah Jazz are playing their third game in four nights as part of an Eastern road trip. Maybe the travel from Detroit on Thursday to Toronto today was hardly tiresome, but the wear of the trip should add up, nonetheless. And the win against the Pistons may be undervalued in tonight’s spread.
Don’t laugh. Yes, Detroit is atrocious. Cade Cunningham may not think the Pistons are 2-26 bad, but the results are what they are. And at this point, even the struggling teams — like Utah without multiple starters — face Detroit with some added urgency.
No one wants to be the team to gift the Pistons the streak-breaking win, and the Jazz are no fools; they knew that the game was expected to be tight.
So they put some extra emotional energy into getting the 119-111 win, and now tonight may be a letdown moment for the Jazz, certainly, one more than bookmakers may anticipate.
Meanwhile, the Toronto Raptors are on the second night of a back-to-back and the third game in four nights. By no means do the Raptors have a scheduling advantage here.
Toronto also continues to possess an inconsistent offense and a swarming defense. In its last three home games, the Unders have all cashed with ease, falling short of their totals by 11.8 points per game.
Without any Raptors schedule advantage here, it is too much of a leap to back Toronto by two buckets. There is still reason to doubt Utah, though. Scoff at the thought of putting emotions into beating Detroit if you insist, but the most competitive players in the world are too proud to risk that ignominy.
Any Jazz letdown should further the reasonable expectation that the Raptors will veer toward another home Under.
My best bet: Under 232.5 (-110 at PointsBet)
Jazz vs Raptors same-game parlay
Under 232.5
Highest scoring quarter: 2Q
Raptors first half alternate spread -0.5
This is a bet against legs. With both teams playing their third games in four nights, logic insists fatigue will show up eventually.
When those legs wear out, transition buckets will be sparse and jump shots will fall short. This second half could become an ugly one, and if that becomes reality, leaning into the first-half quarter with better value is simply prudent holiday shopping.
The same thoughts largely apply to trusting the Raptors in the first half. They may be at home tonight, but being on a back-to-back may negate that edge, particularly since Pascal Siakam, Scottie Barnes, OG Anunoby, and Dennis Schroder all played 34+ minutes last night.
If they are going to impress tonight, it will be early. Trusting Toronto late tonight may be a mistake.
Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.
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Jazz vs Raptors spread and Over/Under analysis
The Raptors opened as 6.5-point favorites before they even played the 76ers last night, that number falling to -5.5 after the game, an acknowledgment that Toronto played that whole game hoping for a win.
The Jazz are more healthy than they were on Thursday, with Lauri Markkanen off the injury report and Talen Horton-Tucker upgraded to questionable.
The total opened at 229.5 before reaching 232.5 as of this morning. With these plans to back the Under, we are getting in at the right moment.
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Jazz vs Raptors betting trend to know
Utah is 7-5 against the spread this season as a two-bucket underdog, with lines between +3.5 and +6. It is also 5-7 outright in those moments, with one of the losses coming in overtime. Find more NBA betting trends for Jazz vs. Raptors.
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Jazz vs Raptors game info
| Location: | Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON |
| Date: | Saturday, December 23, 2023 |
| Tip-off: | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV: | KJZZ, Sportsnet |
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