Blazers Out of Playoff Picture, Jazz Remain
The Portland Trail Blazers have lost six straight games to fall out of the playoff picture in the Western Conference. Wednesday figures to be the last call for them as they trail the Utah Jazz – the team they’re set to face – by four games with just 11 contests left to play.
Meanwhile, if you’ve been tracking the NBA news, you’ve seen that the Jazz have won four out of their last five. Will Portland take down a surging Utah squad on Wednesday?
Lillard Needs More Help
The Blazers have been one of the worst teams in the Western Conference this season, but that’s not because of Damian Lillard. Those who bet online know that the superstar point guard has been giving everything he has for this organization.
He’s playing at an MVP level despite not getting much attention from the media. He’s putting up 32.2 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game this season.
The rest of the roster has been lackluster. Jerami Grant will potentially miss this game with an injury, Jusef Nurkic looks like a shell of his old self, and the rest of their roster doesn’t contribute much of anything on the defensive end.
Before you make your NBA picks here, note that the Blazers have allowed 120.1 points per game over their last 10. That ranks them 26th in the NBA over that span. Is that a team you really want to bet on?
Most game winners since 2012:
— Damian Lillard (25)
— LeBron James (15)
— James Harden (14)
Dame ⌚️💪#RipCity l @trailblazers pic.twitter.com/yuoXAxySlf
— Dame Muse (@Dame_Muse) March 20, 2023
Utah Continues to Impress
The Jazz were supposed to be heading into a rebuilding year but have since been one of the most surprising teams in the league. They remain just one game below .500 but hold the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.
Before you place your sports bets, it is worth noting that their top three scorers, Lauri Markkanen, Jordan Clarkson, and Collin Sexton all missed their recent contest with injuries.
However, it looks like Markkanen is set to return after practicing on Tuesday, while Clarkson is likely to be out. Sexton is a question mark but is likely to remain out.
The Jazz have looked like a cohesive, well-coached unit this season. They’re also 22-13 at home. They are without a couple of key players, which should give you pause, but they still might be the better team in the sportsbook.
Trail Blazers vs Jazz Game Injuries
Trail Blazers vs Jazz Head-to-Head
The Blazers and Jazz have met three times, with Portland winning two of those games.
Trail Blazers vs Jazz Information
- Game: Trail Blazers (31-40) vs Jazz (35-36)
- Location: Vivint Arena, Salt Lake City, UT
- Day/Time: Wednesday, March 22, 9:00 p.m. ET
- Trail Blazers vs Jazz Live stream: NBA Game Pass
Trail Blazers vs Jazz Betting Lines
Trail Blazers vs Jazz Picks and Prediction
The Blazers have the best player on the court in Damian Lillard, but is that enough? When you look at the rest of their roster and how they’ve performed, it’s hard not to roll with the Jazz on the NBA lines.
Portland is a sinking ship. They’ve lost six straight, 11 of 14 and are just 14-22 on the road this season. Go with the Jazz, who have a lot more pep in their step these days.
Utah is listed at -175 in our Vegas NBA lines. So, if you wager $100 on the Jazz, there’s a chance to win $57. Portland is 150 with a chance to win $150 on a $100 wager.
The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Trail Blazers a 40.00% chance to win, with the Jazz at 63.64%
Trail Blazers vs Jazz Trends
Trail Blazers vs Jazz Edge
Trail Blazers vs Jazz Results
Trail Blazers vs Jazz Game Summary
Jazz vs Trail Blazers Previous Game (Jan 25, 2023)
The Utah Jazz go for a second straight win when they visit the Portland Trail Blazers for a matchup of Western Conference playoff hopefuls on Wednesday night. Utah is coming off a victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Monday, its third win in four games, and is second place in the Northwest Division, 10 games behind the first-place Denver Nuggets.
Portland snapped a three-game losing streak with a win over the San Antonio Spurs on Monday but is sitting in last place in the Northwest, trailing the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder by a game. Both teams are on the edge of falling out of the top teams in the West, so this is an important game. Check out our NBA betting preview to help you determine how you want to wager on it.
The Utah Jazz have been playing well of late, but they have trouble when they hit the road. The Portland Trail Blazers should be able to use the momentum they gained from Monday’s win to pick up another victory at home.
