Rockets vs Jazz Predictions, Picks, and Odds for Tonight’s NBA Game

Neither the Houston Rockets nor the Utah Jazz have any reason to care in the season’s final weekend. The players need to show up to collect their paychecks, but the organizations are already locked into their draft slots. Tonight’s game is effectively an exhibition.

And that is why we gamble, to make the mundane interesting. Utah might have some personal dignity to stand up for, on a 13-game losing streak.

This may be the last chance for the Jazz to notch a win this season, and while betting on the 10.5-point underdogs to win outright may be a bit too aggressive, we'll back the home team in our free NBA picks as we dig into Rockets vs. Jazz predictions, tipping off on Thursday, April 11, at 9:00 ET.

Rockets vs Jazz predictions

My best bet
Jazz +10.5 (-110 at BetRivers)

My analysis
We should give more credit to baseball players. The White Sox may as well already be eliminated from postseason contention, but it can be assumed they will play to a moderately competitive level for the next five months. The difference is baseball is so driven by individual numbers. Raising a batting percentage a few points over a season can have a material impact on a player’s future contract.

In the NBA, missing shots for a weekend will not impact next year’s incomes, particularly not for the Houston Rockets. Of Houston’s top six players right now, four will still be on their rookie deals next season, and the remaining two — Fred VanVleet and Dillon Brooks — were high-priced free agents signed just last season.

So once the Rockets lost to the Warriors a week ago to snuff out their slim playoff hopes, there was no motivation to be found in Houston. They proceeded to lose the next two games both outright and against the spread. Beating the Magic on Tuesday should be considered the exception that proves the rule.

The Utah Jazz, however, might be the rare team to care right now. In the same mold as the Pistons (28 games) and the Wizards (16 games) earlier this season, the Jazz are still playing to end this ugly losing streak. They're not getting very close, falling by single digits only three times in this 13-game losing streak and going 3-10 ATS over the stretch.

However, one of those was against Houston two weeks ago, losing by one point even when the Rockets still had postseason dreams. Oddly, the Jazz did not play well, shooting 26% from deep and committing 20 turnovers. Even for Utah, those were outliers.

If the Jazz can stand up a bit taller tonight, they should at least cover this hefty spread, even if their losing reaches 16 games at season’s end.

Rockets vs Jazz same-game parlay

Jazz +10.5

Under 228.5

Dillon Brooks Under 11.5 points

+490 at DraftKings

It may strike you as absurd, backing Utah in a game in which no Jazz player props are available as of Thursday morning, none available because any player you can name has been ruled out. Jordan Clarkson, John Collins, Kris Dunn, Walker Kessler, Lauri Markkanen, and Collin Sexton are all out. That leaves... Keyonte George, Taylor Hendricks, and Brice Sensabaugh as Utah’s leading scorers.

Now, do not diminish Sensabaugh. His game will fit in the NBA for years to come, but the point is, this is a bet fading Houston’s want-to, and if the Rockets just want to get home, the Under only makes sense. Fading the most enigmatic piece of Houston’s rotation fits that same ethos.

Gambling as an armchair psychologist is a difficult task, but at this point in the NBA season, it's the only option.

Learn how to bet a same-game parlay with these helpful tips and strategies.

Rockets vs Jazz odds

Rockets vs Jazz live odds

Rockets vs Jazz opening odds

• Spread: Houston -5.5 | Utah +5.5
• Moneyline: Houston -210 | Utah +170
• Over/Under: Over 226.5 | Under 226.5

Rockets vs Jazz spread and Over/Under analysis

• Betting on Utah may strike you as absurd, but the number has begun to be bought back. The Jazz opened as 6.5-point underdogs late on Wednesday and that steamed to +11 by Thursday morning, the impact of those absences understood, but it then began to slip back to +10.5, some books committing to +10.
  
  
• The total rose with those absences, Utah’s best defenders all ruled out. It opened at 226 late Wednesday and climbed to 228.5 by Thursday midmorning.
  
  
• Part of Utah’s losing streak has been the quality of competition: The Jazz have played 10 games against playoff opponents in this 13-game losing streak, the exceptions being two games against Houston and one against San Antonio, two of which ended up as single-digit losses.

Rockets vs Jazz trend

Of their three games against each other this season, all Rockets wins, two came by a single point. Find more NBA betting trends for Rockets vs. Jazz.

Rockets vs Jazz game info

Rockets vs Jazz latest injuries

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