Free NBA Pick: Thunder vs. Jazz NBA Odds
Looking for Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Utah Jazz free NBA picks & NBA odds? NBA betting sees the Thunder taking on the Jazz on Wednesday, October 20th, 2021 at Vivint Arena. Cappers Picks provides complimentary expert handicapping picks on all NBA basketball matchups so stay tuned for more FREE daily NBA hoops predictions like this Thunder Jazz matchup.
2021 NBA Handicapping
(0-0) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Utah Jazz (0-0)
Date: Wednesday, October 20th
Time: 9:00 PM EST
Venue: Vivint Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah
NBA Moneyline Odds: Jazz -700, Thunder +500 (Bet Now!)
NBA Betting Odds: Jazz -12
NBA Betting Total: 221
After two COVID-shortened camapigns, NBA basketball is back in full swing as the 2021-22′ season begins.
Here we consider whether prohibitive road underdog Oklahoma City can upset the line vs. a strong Utah Jazz group.
The Jazz open with championship hopes following their NBA-best 52-20 record which led to a 4-2 playoff ouster last spring vs. Phoenix. Utah is motivated to break into serious title contention following that loss, and first attack an unproven OKC roster.
Knee-deep in year two of what figures to be a lengthy rebuild, the Thunder are about player development after finishing 22-50 under new sideline leader Mark Daigneault. Expect acute OKC growing pains mixed with highlights from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Lu Dort and rookie Josh Giddey.
The Jazz swept Oklahoma City 3-0 last season, including a command 109-93 May 14 road win.
Oklahoma City Thunder
Sam Presti recently stockpiled draft picks and development talent with the future in mind. The club also re-signed emergent star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to a five year extension. Gilgeous-Alexander averaged 23.7 ppg last season to become centerpiece material as things take shape.
Lu Dort added 14.3 points during a breakout 20-21′ and joins no. 6 overall pick Josh Giddey as top Thunder perimeter support.
Gilgeous-Alexander, Dort and Giddey are flanked by Darius Bazley and vet Derek Favors to round the OKC starting 5.
Theo Maledon, Aleksej Pokusevski and Ty Jerome slot as key Thunder reserves, and should each see plentiful action as various lineups are evaluated.
Finding the right combos will naturally take time for the upstart Thunder, however. Presti has removed any semblance from the Westbrook/Durant era in creating a maleable roster suited for grass-roots development.
Last season OKC averaged 105 ppg and allowed 115 -both near league-worst numbers. Overall, the Thunder performed like an expansion franchise in every category.
Don’t expect anything different Oct. 20th when this even greener Oklahoma City collective treads hostile territory vs. a poised host.
The Thunder has no injuries to report heading into Wednesday’s opener.
Utah Jazz
Last year, Utah enjoyed its awaited breakthrough after pacing the NBA with 52 wins. That regular season quality wore thin when it most mattered, though. Phoenix presented too many issues for Utah to overcome as the Jazz bowed from the playoffs, perhaps wiser for having their flaws exposed.
If Utah diversifies shot selection, rather than relying almost entirely on three-point looks, the Jazz can become elite contenders… a competitive tier OKC can only currently envision.
Utah held opponents to 107 ppg last season and returned 116 while fashioning the league’s top differential at +9.2. The Jazz took, and made, more threes than all others behind a perimiter attack featuring All Stars and bench aces.
Utah’s nucleus remains intact, led by Donovan Mitchell (26.4 ppg), Bojan Bogdanovic (17.0) and defensive anchor Rudy Gobert (13.5 rpg). That ultra-talented core also boasts Mike Conley, Royce O’Neale and supersubs Jordan Clarkson and Joe Ingles.
Eric Paschall, Rudy Gay and Hassan Whiteside add veteran insurance to a loaded rotation licking its chops at home on opening night versus lottery fodder.
Per ESPN.Com, Rudy Gay (foot) will not dress Wednesday vs. Orlando. Elijah Hughes and Trent Forrest are listed as day-to-day. Gay’s reserve presence will be missed as the 34-year-old averaged 11.4 points and 4.8 rbs in 21.6 mpg with San Antonio last year.
Betting Trends:
- Utah are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games played in October.
- Utah are 14-5 SU in their last 19 games played on a Wednesday.
- Oklahoma City are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games.
- Oklahoma City are 1-9 SU in their last 10 games.
- Oklahoma City are 2-4 SU in their last 6 games against Utah.
- Oklahoma City are 1-12 SU in their last 13 games on the road.
Free Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Utah Jazz NBA Prediction:
Screwy things generally happen early in the season when teams shake off rust to begin an 82-game grind. With Utah so much better than OKC on paper, early Jazz missteps are the only competitive path the Thunder realistically have.
Don’t expect those random, slim odds to favor Thunder basketball. Do, however, expect a thorough Jazz home route as Utah seeks early melody.
4* Free NBA Betting Pick: Jazz -12
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