Nuggets vs Jazz Picks and Predictions: Jokic & Co. Feasts on Rudy-less Jazz Defense

The Denver Nuggets saw their five-game winning streak come to an end last night in humbling fashion to the Minnesota Timberwolves. But Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets will need a short memory as they travel to Utah to take on the Jazz.

Luckily, for the Nuggets, the Jazz are dealing with a mountain of injuries and will be without at least Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert for this Northwest Division showdown. Even so, Utah is still a slight home favorite.

Who will cover the spread? Find out in our free NBA betting picks and predictions for Nuggets vs. Jazz on February 2.

Nuggets vs Jazz odds

This odds widget represents the best odds available for each betting market from regulated sportsbooks.

The Jazz opened this matchup as 2-point home favorites and have risen as high as 3.5 but money has come back on the Nuggets, moving the line to 2.5. The total hit the board at 222.5 and has been bet up to 223.5.

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.

Nuggets vs Jazz predictions

• Prediction: Nuggets +3 (-110)
• Prediction: Over 223 (-110)
• Best bet: Nikola Jokic Over 9.5 assists (-125)

Predictions made on 2/2/2022 at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

Nuggets vs Jazz game info

• Location: Vivint Arena, Salt Lake City, UT
• Date: Wednesday, February 2, 2022
• Tip-off: 10:00 p.m. ET
• TV: ESPN

Nuggets vs Jazz betting preview

Injuries

Nuggets: DeMarcus Cousins C (Questionable).
Jazz: Donovan Mitchell SG (Out), Rudy Gobert C (Out), Joe Ingles SG (Out), Hassan Whiteside C (Questionable).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.

Betting trend to know

The Over is 9-2 in the Nuggets' last 11 games overall and is 8-3 in the Jazz's last 11 games versus a team with a winning straight-up record. Find more NBA betting trends for Nuggets vs. Jazz.

Nuggets 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

Yes, the Nuggets saw their five-game winning streak come to an end last night in Minnesota (funnily enough this is a matchup where both teams are coming off losses to the Timberwolves), but the run has seen them climb to within a game and a half of the Jazz for the top spot in the Northwest Division. And more importantly, the Denver offense is still humming heading into this game.

Led by Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets rank second in the NBA when it comes to offensive rating over their last 10 games, putting up 120.1 points per contest over that span. Jokic, the reigning MVP, has looked unstoppable, averaging a triple-double with 27.3 points, 13.1 rebounds and 10.7 assists over that span.

Now, the Joker & Co. go up against a Jazz team that is struggling and to make matters worse has been decimated by injuries. The Jazz are 2-11 SU and 2-10-1 ATS over their last 13 games and they go into this one without their two best players in Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. On top of that, they have recently found out that Joe Inglis will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury.

Not coincidentally, the Jazz defense has taken a huge step back without Gobert. The Utah big man has missed nine of the team’s last 14 games and over that stretch, the normally stout Jazz defense ranks 24th in defensive rating. 

While the Nuggets are playing the second half of a back-to-back, they are in a much better spot than the Jazz. The Denver offense is in a groove while nothing seems to be going right for Utah, particularly the defense without Gobert. Plus, the offense has to manage without Mitchell and Inglis. 

Even though the Nuggets haven't been a great bet themselves lately, we’ve got to lean to taking the points with the Joker here.

Prediction: Nuggets +3 (-110)

Over/Under analysis

While the spread may be a little harder to figure out, the total feels a little safer here. As long as Jokic plays of course.

As noted, the Nuggets offense is humming right now, putting up 120.1 points per game over the last 10 games, and is going against a Jazz defense that really struggles without Gobert. In the last nine games without him, they have allowed 117.6 points per game.

Meanwhile, it’s Mitchell’s dynamic presence that has been missed on offense. Mitchell has missed the last seven games and the Jazz are averaging 105 points in those contests. But while the Nuggets are rolling on offense the defense is still lacking.

They rank 17th in defensive rating over the last 10 games, allowing 114 points per game over that span. The Jazz still have the likes of Mike Conley and Jordan Clarkson to carry the offensive load and should be able to get to that 105 average in this matchup. Meaning we like the Over here.

Prediction: Over 223 (-110)

Best bet

As noted, the reason for the Nuggets’ impressive run on offense has been because of the play of Nikola Jokic.  The Nuggets big man is arguably playing better than he was during his MVP season. 

Jokic has also done a great job of getting his teammates involved in the offense. Over the last 10 games, he has upped his assists per game from 7.4 to 10.7. Now, he faces a Jazz defense that ranks 19th in opponent assists per game dating back to Jan. 5.

Jokic’s assist total for this matchup is 9.5, a number he has gone Over six times in his last 10 games. That includes him dishing out 14 dimes against them back on January 16.

Pick: Nikola Jokic Over 9.5 assists (-125)

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