Nets vs. Jazz prediction and odds for Monday, Dec. 18 (Bet Brooklyn to cover on the road)
By Jovan Alford
The Brooklyn Nets will look to end their five-game west coast road trip on a high note tonight as they head to Salt Lake City to play the Jazz. This road trip hasn't been fun for the Nets, who have dropped three out of their last four games.
Brooklyn hopes that Cam Thomas and Mikal Bridges can lead them to a much-needed win against a Jazz squad that is eight games below .500 but defeated the Knicks at home last week. The Nets are 3.5-point road favorites over the Jazz ahead of tonight's tip-off.
Here are the odds and our best bet for Brooklyn-Utah:
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Nets vs. Jazz odds, spread and total
Nets vs. Jazz how to watch
- Date: Monday, Dec. 18
- Game Time: 9:00 p.m. EST
- Venue: Delta Center
- How to Watch (TV): KJZZ, YES
- Nets Record: 13-12
- Jazz Record: 9-17
Nets vs. Jazz injury reports
Brooklyn Nets injury report
- Dorian Finney-Smith – Questionable
- Ben Simmons – Out
- Dennis Smith Jr. – Out
- Lonnie Walker IV – Out
Utah Jazz injury report
- Jordan Clarkson – Out
- John Collins – Questionable
- Keyonte George – Out
- Luka Samanic – Questionable
- Omer Yurtseven – Questionable
Nets vs. Jazz key players to watch
Brooklyn Nets
Cam Thomas: Thomas is coming off an electrifying performance against the Warriors over the weekend, where he had 41 points on 15-of-24 shooting from the field and 5-of-13 from beyond the arc. The 22-year-old shooting guard is a walking bucket who can score 30 or more points any night. This season, Thomas is scoring a career-best 23.9 points per game on 45% shooting from the field and 35.3% from downtown.
Utah Jazz
Lauri Markkanen: Markkanen has been the best player on the Jazz this season and has been the subject of trade rumors. The 26-year-old forward is averaging 23.4 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. The former seventh overall pick has proven that last year’s All-Star Game nod was not a fluke but a launching pad of things to come. Markkanen has only played in two games this month due to injury but will hopefully finish December strong.
Nets vs. Jazz prediction and pick
The Nets lone win on the west coast trip came against the Suns last week (116-112), as all five players were in double figures. Brooklyn must get another solid performance from Thomas and Mikal Bridges if they want to improve their record (5-7) away from the Barclays Center.
This season, the Nets are 8-1 against the spread as the favorite and 3-0 ATS when the spread was between -5.5 to -2.5. Meanwhile, Utah has played well at home (7-5) despite only being 9-17 on the season.
With Markkanen on the floor, the Jazz are a better offensive team, even if their record (5-12) says otherwise. Utah got crushed by Sacramento over the weekend as they allowed Keegan Murray to drop 47 points. Therefore, they must be better defensively, as Thomas and Bridges can score 40 points.
The Jazz are 6-3 ATS as a home underdog and 9-3 ATS at home this season. Tonight’s game will be close in Salt Lake City, but I’ll give the edge to the better offensive team in the Nets.
Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.