The Indiana Pacers are riding a six-game losing streak, but that could end when the Utah Jazz come to town.
Utah is the current +4 underdog with the sportsbook after numerous players could be missing. The Jazz could be without Donovan Mitchell, Jordan Clarkson, Rudy Gobert and a number of other starters.
- Game: Utah Jazz (28-11) at Indiana Pacers (14-25)
- Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse
- Day/Time: Saturday, 7 p.m. ET
Utah Jazz at Indiana Pacers
Jazz Hit Hard
The Utah Jazz are scurrying to find enough players after a raft of players have either picked up injuries or are on the COVID protocol list.
Not having their superstar players won’t make beating the Pacers easy, but there is little wrong with their recent form.
They have won four of their last five games, including a 115-109 victory over the Denver Nuggets. Bogdan Bogdanovic had a huge game, but you can include his name in the list of unavailable players.
With an away record of 14-3, the Jazz have been an excellent value bet. Despite being only 19-18-1 against the spread, bettors often get a good line for their road games, and this is no exception.
NBA betting odds have the Jazz at +4, which is foreign territory. However, they were 13½-point underdogs against the Raptors on Friday, which ended in a 122-108 loss. Playing without their stars took its toll and it could have the same effect against Indiana.
“In the second half, our transition defense was what let us down,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder told ESPN.
“I was really pleased and proud of the guys that were out there tonight and how they competed.”
They are 6-1 ATS in their last seven road games, so bettors can take solace in that statistic.
Pacers Desperate for Success
It has been a rough few months for the Indiana Pacers, who scored their last win against the Houston Rockets on December 23.
They haven’t been playing terrible basketball during the six-game losing run, but they fail to close out in the fourth more than any other team.
The Pacers lost to the Bulls 108-106, the Cavaliers 108-104 and the Nets 129-121, so they have been right in the thick of the contest. However, they have fallen to 14-25.
Despite the poor overall record, they are 18-9-2 ATS, so it’s not all bad news for bettors. They are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 Saturday games, so playing on the weekend is another positive.
Betting online markets are giving them plenty of respect at -4. That’s mostly due to Utah’s available players, which gives the Pacers a chance to snag a home win.
They have scored 11 of their 14 wins at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, so bettors should be confident of an improved performance.
Pick the Pacers
It takes courage to bet on a team struggling to win games, let alone against the Jazz, but this is the Pacers’ best chance to win.
They take on a second-string Jazz unit, and if the Pacers play anywhere near the level they played against the Nets, they should win.
Covering the -4 spread shouldn’t be much of an issue, so add the Pacers to your NBA Saturday ticket.
