Thunder vs Jazz Picks and Predictions: Backing OKC's ATS Cash Cow

OKC has been the second-most profitable team against the spread this season at 48-27-1. Tonight, they're getting 17.5 points against a Jazz team that has played far from its best basketball of late — making this a no-brainer for our NBA betting picks.

Chris Gregory - Publishing Editor at Covers.com
Chris Gregory • Publishing Editor
Apr 6, 2022 • 11:31 ET • 4 min read
Georgios Kalaitzakis Oklahoma City Thunder NBA
Photo By - USA TODAY Sports

We're officially in the dog days of the NBA regular season, where some huge spreads are lining the NBA betting boards.

That will be the case tonight when the Oklahoma City Thunder — having won back-to-back games head to Utah to take on the Jazz as huge 17.5-point road pups.

Will the Thunder's unrecognizable core keep up their ATS winning ways or will Utah clear the big number? Read our Thunder vs. Jazz NBA betting picks and predictions to find out.

Editor's note: Ontario! Welcome to the world of regulated sports betting. Visit our Ontario sports betting page for the best legal betting sites available to you and all the information you need about this emerging industry.

Thunder vs Jazz odds

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

Utah hit the board as a whopping 17-point home favorite but has ticked up a shade to -17.5 as of Wednesday morning. The total opened at 222 and has dropped to as low as 219 at the time of writing, but some books are still offering numbers between 219 and 220.5 so be sure to shop around.

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.

Thunder vs Jazz predictions

Predictions made on 4/6/2022 at 11:00 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.

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Thunder vs Jazz game info

Location: Vivint Arena, Salt Lake City, UT
Date: Wednesday, April 6, 2022
Tip-off: 9:00 p.m. ET
TV: Bally Sports Oklahoma, SportsNet RM

Thunder vs Jazz betting preview

Key injuries

Thunder: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander G (Out), Lugentz Dort G (Out), Josh Giddey G (Out), Darius Bazley F (Out), Tre Mann G (Out), Mike Muscala F (Out), Derrick Favors F (Out), Kenrich Williams F (Out), Ty Jerome G (Out). 
Jazz: Udoka Azubuike C (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.

Betting trend to know

Oklahoma City is 6-1 ATS in its last seven meetings in Utah. The Jazz are 0-5-1 ATS in their last six games as favorites. Find more NBA betting trends for Thunder vs. Jazz.

Thunder vs Jazz picks and predictions

Our side and total predictions are based upon our analysis of the line and total in this game. Our best bet is our favorite pick across all markets.

Spread analysis

For a team as bad — and with a lineup as interchangeable — as Oklahoma City's, the Thunder haven't stopped being profitable for NBA bettors.

Their rotation is a fast-moving revolving door of guys you probably haven't heard of as OKC tries to patch together scoring in the absence of Shai-Gilegeous Alexander, Josh Giddey, Lu Dort, and.... everyone else listed on that monstrous injury report.

But either way, this team has remained an absolute cash cow. OKC's season-long ATS record of 48-27-1 is second-best in the NBA and they now head to Utah having covered nine of its last 11 games, including back-to-back outright wins against Phoenix and Portland.

Over that 11-game stretch, six games had closing lines of +13 or bigger — OKC played them to a perfect 6-0 ATS mark. Tonight's 17.5-point number is just another day at the office for OKC.

Utah, on the other hand, has been abysmal against the spread, especially of late. The Jazz are 31-45-3 ATS on the season, ranking out third-worst in the NBA, and enter tonight's contest having not covered in seven straight games.

Over their last 10 games, the Jazz are just 19th in offensive rating and 17th defensively compared to their season-long marks of first and 11th. This team is far removed from its best basketball and nearly fell all the way into a play-in spot prior to locking in a Top-6 seed last night.

Across those same 10 games, OKC ranks just 26th offensively but is seventh in defensive rating. Records aside, these teams aren't that different in their current state, at least not 17.5 points different.

No matter who suits up — or sits out — for OKC, they'll find a way to hang around with a Jazz team that hasn't covered a spread in over two weeks.

Prediction: Thunder +17.5 (-109 at CoolBet)

Over/Under analysis

As mentioned above, these two offenses — specifically Utah's — haven't been performing. 

These two squads rank 22nd and 25th in scoring offense over their last 10 contests but also sit in the top half in scoring defense over that stretch. 

OKC scored just 98 points in last night's win over Portland and may struggle to do much better tonight, but its defense will ultimately be what keeps them in this game — and prevents Utah from breaking loose.

The Thunder have gone Under in three straight games, and six of OKC's last nine games would have stayed Under tonight's total.

With both teams having played last night, and Utah even playing an extra five-minute overtime frame against Memphis, fatigue should set in as this game wears on, keeping this game just Under the 220.5-point total.

Prediction: Under 220.5 (-110 at 888sport)

Best bet

OKC may be on a fast track to a Top-5 draft pick but the young guys getting big minutes — many of which are fighting for roster spots or contracts — have played hard to close the season. That's what has allowed them to punch above their weight.

Utah will almost assuredly win this game but few teams know what to do with this many points better than OKC. Take every single one of them tonight.

PickThunder +17.5 (-109 at CoolBet)

NBA parlays

Did you know that if you parlayed today’s NBA Thunder vs. Jazz predictions and picks in a single-game parlay, you could win $26.45 on a $10 bet?

Use our NBA parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.

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Chris Gregory Covers.com
Publishing Editor

In his three years on the Covers editorial team, Chris Gregory has helped bolster the site’s PGA Tour and college football coverage, though his love for Rory McIlroy and the Buckeyes is often met with disappointment. He brings a journalism and marketing background to his work as a Publishing Editor and has appeared on Jason Logan’s Sharp 600 to talk about the Masters and golf’s other majors.

His best betting advice? Stay away from betting your favorite teams; it’ll only make the hurt worse.

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