NBA Utah Jazz vs Houston Rockets Game 5 Spread and Prediction

Date/Time: 05-08-2018, 20:00 EDT

Spread: Houston Rockets -12

Total: +209.5

With the top-seeded team of the West and the whole NBA Rockets (65-17) being up 3-1 wins after winning both Utah games, the series moves back to Houston once again as they are hosting the Utah Jazz (48-34), who are now facing the impossible in Game 5 of this Western Conference semifinal.

Jazz had a 48-34 record in the regular season. They finished in the fifth place of the league and they are 2-4 in their last 6 matches. Rockets had a 65-17 record in the regular season. They finished first the West and the whole NBA and are 5-1 in their last 6 games. In game 4 two days ago, Chris Paul led the Rockets in a second straight road victory with 100-87 by scoring 27 points and grabbing 12 boards and dishing 6 dimes. Houston chocked Utah defensively, holding them into 38.6% shooting.

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Jazz are led in scoring by Donovan Mitchell with 24.4 ppg. The rookie also adds 6.1 boards per game. Joe Ingles follows with 14.8 ppg, while Rudy Gobert adds 13.3 ppg and a team-best 10.9 boards per game. Rockets are led in scoring by James Harden with 29.7 ppg, adding 5.1 boards and a team-best 7.8 dimes per game. Chris Paul follows with 19.7 ppg and 6 dimes per game, while Clint Capela adds 15.4 ppg and a team-best 13 boards per game.

In their 8 previous meetings this season, Houston leads 7-1 wins and are 3-1 at home. Houston have a 38-8 home record, while Utah are 22-24 on the road. Houston have the third-best offense in the postseason with 109.2 ppg to Utah’s 102.4 and the second-best defense, allowing 99.9 ppg to Utah’s 103.8. Utah have better accuracy both from inside the arc with 45.4% to Houston’s 44.2% and from behind the arc with 35.9% to Houston’s 34.2%. Jazz also grab more rebounds (45.4 to 44.2), while Houston commit less turnovers (9.7 to 15.9) and dish more assists, with 20.6 to Utah’s 19.9. Rockets have the momentum with back-to-back road wins and have Jazz on the ropes, so expect them to end the series today at home.

Utah Jazz vs Houston Rockets Game 5 Prediction: Houston Rockets -12 (-109)