NBA Utah Jazz vs Oklahoma City Thunder Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 12-10-2018, 20:00 EDT

Spread: Oklahoma City Thunder -6

Total: +216

In this duel between two Western conference squads coming off defeats in their latest matchups, the Utah Jazz, who want to bounce back and climb up from the bottom places of the conference, are visiting the Oklahoma City Thunder, who want to return to the winning ways as well.

Jazz are 13-14 so far in the league and are tied with San Antonio in the twelfth place of the Western Conference. In their latest matchup they saw a 2-game victory streak end with a road defeat by San Antonio, 97-110. Thunder are 16-8 so far in the league and are tied with Denver in the 2^nd place of the Western conference. In their latest matchup they saw a 4-game victory streak end with a road defeat by Chicago, 112-114.

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Utah are led in scoring by Donovan Mitchell with 20.9 ppg. He also adds 3.4 assists per game, while Rudy Gobert follows with 14.9 ppg and leads the team in rebounding with 12.2 per game. Ricky Rubio adds 13.2 ppg and leads the team in assists made with 6.2 per game. Oklahoma are led in scoring by Paul George with 24 ppg. He also adds 8 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game, while Russell Westbrook follows with 22.8 ppg and leads the team both in rebounding with 10.6 and in assists made with 10.1 per game. Dennis Schroder adds 16.5 ppg, 4.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game.

Those two teams met 10 times last year with each one winning 5 times. They also met in the first round of the playoffs where Utah eliminated Oklahoma 4-2 wins. Oklahoma are 9-3 at home so far, while Utah are 9-8 on the road. Oklahoma have both a better offense with 111.1 ppg to Utah’s 107 and a better defense, allowing 104.4 ppg to Utah’s 107.3 ppg. Utah have a better accuracy both from the field, shooting with 46.4% to Oklahoma’s 45.1% and from behind the arc, shooting with 33.4% to Oklahoma’s 31.7%. Oklahoma commit fewer turnovers (14.4 to 15.2) and grab more rebounds per game (49.2 to 42.8), while Utah dish more assists per game (24.1 to 22.8). The Jazz don’t pose a threat on the road against a superior team, so pick the Thunder in this one.

Utah Jazz vs Oklahoma City Thunder Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder -6 (-109)