NBA Betting – Red-hot Jazz await Nuggets
Sports betting players should be treated to an exciting matchup in the NBA on Saturday night, as the Utah Jazz will try to extend their winning streak against a Denver team that could be worn out from a tough game the previous night. Can the Nuggets find the energy to overcome the odds?
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Nuggets vs Jazz odds – Saturday, February 6, 9:00 PM ET
The Nuggets (33-16 as of Friday) were coming off a disappointing home loss to Phoenix on Wednesday before Friday’s trip to Los Angeles for a showdown with the Lakers, and they could still be without Carmelo Anthony, who has been out with an ankle injury. This means the Nuggets have had to get points from other players like Chauncey Billups, and even Kenyon Martin has stepped up on the offensive end in Anthony’s absence. Anthony loved playing against the Jazz, as he averaged 33.5 points in two meetings with Utah this season, while Billups was next with 27.0 points.
The Jazz (30-18) have won seven in a row, and they’ve won nine straight at EnergySolutions Arena, and they’re also soldiering on without a star as Carlos Boozer has been out for three games with an ailing calf. Boozer looks like he should return to the lineup for this game, but coach Jerry Sloan can rest knowing that he can put Paul Millsap in and get some production. Millsap is averaging 19.2 points and 9.8 rebounds in his last five games, and he went for 32 points and 14 boards in a win over Sacramento last week. Deron Williams is pacing the Jazz against Denver with 22.3 points and 10.7 assists in three games, while Boozer has added 16.0 points and 11.3 boards.
The Jazz should be favored by US sportsbook odds (US sportsbook reviews) in this contest, given their strength at home, and the Nuggets have struggled in Utah in recent games, losing seven of their last 10 trips there. The Nuggets are 5-5 so far this season in the second half of back-to-back games, but it’s a tall order to ask them to play what will surely be a competitive game in Los Angeles on Friday night, and then travel to Utah to face the hottest team in the NBA this side of Cleveland. The Jazz should get a boost with Boozer back in the lineup, and together he and Millsap can go after the Nuggets’ trio of Martin, Nene and Chris “Birdman” Andersen. The Jazz have been home and resting since beating Portland on Friday night, and you can look for them to push the pace early on.
Sports handicapping pick: Utah
