Wizards vs Jazz Odds, Picks, and Predictions Tonight: Kuzma Takes Over in Utah

It’s been a tough couple of weeks for the Utah Jazz with just three wins in the last 14 games and All-Star Lauri Markkanen is set to miss tonight's game with the lowly Washington Wizards coming to town.

While the NBA odds have the Jazz as a six-point home favorite, this is the perfect opportunity for the Wizards to take advantage of a banged-up Utah squad and at least make it a competitive game behind the play of its best player.

Find out where my best bets lie in our NBA picks and predictions for Wizards vs. Jazz on Monday, March 4.

Wizards vs Jazz odds

Wizards vs Jazz predictions

While nobody is banging the table for Kyle Kuzma to make an All-Star team, he’s been one of the few consistent threats for the Washington Wizards this season. The former first-round pick out of Utah is averaging a career-high 22.2 points per game and shooting a career-best 46.2% from the floor.

Kuzma may not be fit to play the role of best player on most teams, but that’s exactly what he’s been in D.C. and it's allowed him to stuff the box score on a nightly basis. That should continue against a Utah Jazz team that will be without Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kessler tonight.

This Jazz defense has been one of the worst in the NBA this season and it’s the key reason why Utah sits just 11th in the West. Will Hardy’s squad ranks 26th in both points allowed per game (120.5) and defensive rating while being at its worst against power forwards like Kuzma.

No team in the NBA allows more points to power forwards this season than the Jazz, giving up 27.1 points and an NBA-high 3.15 threes per game. This Utah defense has been all-around bad allowing teams to shoot 48.4% from the floor, but it’s been particularly poor defending threes with opponents hitting 39%, the second-worst rate in the NBA.

While Kuzma isn’t the most consistent shooter from behind the arc, he is a threat from three and leads the Wizards in both attempts (6.8) and makes (2.3) while shooting 34.2% from deep. That should allow the former Los Angeles Laker to take advantage of the Jazz’s lackluster perimeter defense.

However, that’s not the only spot where Utah struggles, as it’s allowing the 11th most 2-pointers in the NBA per game (30.1) and Kuzma’s mid-range game can take advantage of that with the Wizards points leader hitting 53% from two this season. 

With injuries taking a major toll on the Jazz lineup, Kuzma will have the opportunity to beat up on some less-than-stellar defenders. Taylor Hendricks, who has a 117.6 defensive rating, is slated to start at power forward with Brice Sensabaugh's 124.1 defensive rating flanking him at the three. 

Utah will have its hands full with Kuzma, especially given his usage. He doesn’t just lead Washington in usage rate (29.8%), but he’s 10th in the entire NBA among players who have played at least 40 games. 

There’s been a need for Kuzma to carry the Wizards this season and interim head coach Brian Keefe said as much after his 32-point performance against the Clippers on Friday.

“I thought Kyle tried to really put it on his back to get us back in,” Keefe said of Kuzma's effort against the Clippers. “He just felt the need to kind of step it up for us, and he's been doing that all year for us.”

Kuzma has had 24 games of at least 24 points this season, including a 26-point performance the last time the Wizards played the Jazz.

My best bet: Kyle Kuzma Over 23.5 points (-115 at bet365)

Wizards vs Jazz same-game parlay

Kyle Kuzma Over 23.5 points

Tyus Jones Under 10.5 points

John Collins Over 17.5 points

+500 at bet365

While Kuzma is set to take advantage of this Jazz defense, point guard Tyus Jones could find himself in a precarious position. The Wizards lead guard isn’t much of a scorer and is far better suited to pick up assists in this game.

Utah holds point guards to the sixth-fewest points in the NBA this season (23.28) while giving up the most assists to them (10.65). That suits Jones’ game perfectly. He’s scoring just 12.1 points per game and has had fewer than 10 in four of his last five. Over that span, he’s averaging 6.4 points, but 10.8 assists.

The Wizards will need Jones setting up Kuzma to help its offense keep up with the Jazz, who can still push a struggling Washington defense even without Markkanen. John Collins, set to start at center, has the best opportunity against the Wizards.

Washington is allowing the most points in the NBA to centers this season (26.95) and Collins will be tasked with taking on a bigger offensive role in Markkanen’s absence. The former first-round pick has had at least 18 points in three of his last four games.

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

Wizards vs Jazz spread and Over/Under analysis

The Jazz opened being favored by as many as 10.5 points with the line quickly coming down to six upon the news that Markkanen wouldn’t be suiting up. 

Utah has been one of the best teams ATS this season going 32-28-1, but is just 2-7 in its last nine. Washington is among the worst teams ATS at 28-31-1, and didn’t cover the seven-point spread in its previous matchup with the Jazz.

Between the struggles of these two defenses, the game total opened as high as 245.5, but has since come down to between 238 and 240 with Markkanen on the injury report. The Jazz have been one of the best Over bets in the NBA this season at 33-27-1 while the Wizards are 29-30-1. The Under hit in the previous game between these two.

Wizards vs Jazz betting trend to know

The Utah Jazz have hit the Game Total Over in 46 of their last 79 games (+13.00 Units / 15% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Wizards vs. Jazz.

Wizards vs Jazz game info

Wizards vs Jazz latest injuries

Stay updated with the latest picks, odds, and news! Tap the to add us to your favorites on Google News to never miss a story.

Pages related to this topic