Jazz vs. Clippers Predictions, Odds, Preview

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

6 minute read

June 14, 2021

by Michael Crosson
NBA Expert
VegasInsider.com

Western Conference NBA action will resume on Monday night with the Jazz and Clippers set to square off in Game 4 at the Staples Center to wrap up TNT’s nationally televised double-header for the evening.

Jazz vs. Clippers Betting Resources

Matchup: Western Conference Playoffs
Expert Picks: Vegas Insiders
Venue: STAPLES Center
Location: Los Angeles, California
Date: Monday, June 14, 2021
Time: 10:00 p.m. ET
TV: TNT
Bet: BetMGM | betrivers |FanDuel |bet365 |DraftKings |Best Sportsbooks

Betting Odds - Jazz vs. Clippers

Subject to Change

Spread: Clippers -4.5
Money-Line: L.A. -190, Utah +170
Total: 223.5

After bouncing back from consecutive losses with a blowout win at home in Game 3, the Clippers enter the fourth matchup of this series as a 4.5-point favorite over the visiting Jazz – which is the same number L. A. was favored by in its latest victory.

The total for Monday’s event is currently stationed at OU 223.5 – which hasn’t moved very far throughout this series, despite its previous two matchups easily cruising over with an average of 233 points per game being scored across them.

The Clippers are back in the series with the Jazz after capturing Game 3 at home on Saturday night. (AP)

Jazz vs. Clippers Current Form

After dropping their postseason opener by a bucket without Donovan Mitchell on the floor, the top-seeded Jazz leisurely cruised to four straight wins over Memphis following the superstar’s return to the lineup in Game 2 – completing the gentleman’s sweep by an average of 11 points per victory in the opening round.

The Jazz didn’t skip a beat to kick off the second-round either, as they quickly jumped out to a two-game lead at home to start their current series – forcing the Clippers into an uncomfortable position that probably feels a little too reminiscent for their liking, considering L.A. also trailed by two games early in the first round.

The Clippers emphatically bounced back with a 26-point victory at home in Game 3 though, as Kawhi Leonard and Paul George teamed up for 65 points on 54% from the floor during Saturday’s blowout at the Staples Center – handing Utah its first loss of the postseason with Mitchell in the lineup.

Jazz vs. Clippers Head-to-Head

Jun. 12, 2021 - Clippers 132 vs. Jazz 106, L.A. -5, Over 222
Jun. 10, 2021 - Jazz 117 vs. Clippers 111, Utah -2.5, Over 222.5
Jun. 8, 2021 - Jazz 112 vs. Clippers 109, Utah -3, Under 221.5
Feb. 19, 2021 - Clippers 116 vs. Jazz 112, L.A. -1, Push 228
Feb. 17, 2021 - Jazz 114 at Clippers 96, Utah -6.5, Under 228
Jan. 1, 2021 - Jazz 106 vs. Clippers 100, Utah +3.5, Under 220

The Jazz won two of three regular-season matchups against the Clippers on the year – with Utah’s pair of victories both staying 'under' due to an average of just 208 points being scored across them, and L.A.’s lone victory pushing at a total of 228 points scored (116-112).

The first matchup between these teams took place on New Year’s Day and resulted in a six-point home victory for the Jazz – as Utah hung in there as long as they could during the back-and-forth battle, but Mitchell ended up shooting them out of contention with his dismal performance from the field (15 points, 6-14 FG).

The following two meetings occurred in a Monday-Wednesday doubleheader back in February though and resulted in a 1-1 split – as Leonard and George both sat out Utah’s blowout victory on the front half of the set, and L.A. responded with a narrow victory at full-strength on the back half.

(SU-Straight Up, ATS - Against the Spread, OU - Over-Under)

Utah Jazz Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

Overall: 58-22 SU, 47-33 ATS, 40-39-1 OU
Road: 23-16 SU, 20-19 ATS, 20-18-1 OU

After pacing the Western Conference standings for most of the year, the Jazz closed out the regular season on a 10-6 stretch – which isn’t a terrible note to finish up on, especially with such a crucial piece of the lineup being absent during that timeframe.

In a tight race for the top seed against Phoenix though (51-21), that final run almost dropped Utah to second place in the standings – nearly landing them a tough matchup against the defending champs in the first round.

Luckily, Phoenix struggled along with them down the stretch and the Jazz managed to claim the Western Conference throne by a narrow one-game margin – earning them a five-game cakewalk against Memphis to kick off their postseason campaign.

All that being said, I’m a little nervous about backing Utah to pull off the upset on the road here though – considering the Jazz haven’t won a game they were ‘dogs in since knocking off Milwaukee at Fiserv Forum back in early January – most recently highlighted by their 26-point loss to the Clippers in Game 3 this past Saturday (LAC -4.5).

Los Angeles Clippers Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

Overall: 52-30 SU, 44-37-1 ATS, 40-40-2 OU
Home: 28-13 SU, 23-18 ATS, 20-19-2 OU

After getting knocked off by Denver in the second round of last year’s postseason, I expected the Clippers to get the wheels churning at both ends of the floor much faster than they did against the Mavericks – considering L.A. stumbled out of the gate with two straight losses at the Staples Center to open the first round.

The Clippers caught a break on their two-game road trip to Dallas though – as Mavericks' star Luka Doncic told media he was experiencing a significant amount of neck pain during his team’s loss in Game 3, which appeared to continue bothering him for the rest of the series.

Even if Doncic was completely healthy for those events, nobody could slow Kawhi during the waning days of the first round, as The Claw averaged 36.5 points on 70% from the field with his back against the wall in Games 6 and 7 – single-handedly carrying L.A. to a series victory over Dallas.

Kawhi has been somewhat restrained by the Jazz in his second-round matchup though, considering the superstar averaged just 22 points on 47% from the field across Games 1 and 2 in Salt Lake City – before popping off 34 points on 58% shooting in Game 3.

Key Injuries

Utah Jazz

PG Mike Conley: Hamstring - Questionable

Los Angeles Clippers

C Serge Ibaka: Back - Out

Jazz vs. Clippers Player Prop Best Bet

Donovan Mitchell – To Score 35+ Points (+186)

After averaging 41 points on 29.5 shot attempts across Games 1 and 2 of this series, Mitchell was relatively quiet during Utah’s blowout loss at the Staples Center this past Saturday – going for just 30 points on 24 attempts in Game 3.

I’ll back Mitchell to respond with another big night here – as I expect Monday’s contest to be far more competitive than the last, which should drive that number back into the 35-45 range again.