Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz Predictions, Odds, Picks

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

Oct. 25, 2021

Michael Crosson
VI Betting Expert
VegasInsider.com

Nationally televised NBA coverage will conclude on Tuesday night with a heavyweight Western Conference bout in Salt Lake City, as Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets will visit Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz. Coverage begins at 10:00 p.m. ET on TNT.

Score Prediction

Jazz 119, Nuggets 108

Best Bets

Utah -7

Nikola Jokic Points Under

Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz Predictions

After getting eliminated by the Clippers in the second round of last year’s playoffs, Utah was generously gifted with a two-game cakewalk to kick off the new season, as the Jazz posted decisive victories over the Thunder and Kings while knocking off the rust across their first week of matchups (+30).

Utah is finally approaching its first big challenge of the year though, considering the undefeated Nuggets will come to town on Tuesday night – who opened the season with a pair of impressive wins over the Suns and Spurs (+18).

Denver’s excellent start comes as a bit of a surprise, considering the Nuggets looked somewhat lost in the second round of the postseason against Phoenix, especially without Jamal Murray on the floor – but on opening night, they bounced back and handled the Suns with relative ease (W, 110-98).

Denver’s stellar performance against Phoenix isn’t something bettors should become totally accustomed to though, considering the Nuggets immediately drew a playoff revenge matchup to kick off the new season – which seemingly carried weight regarding their level of effort displayed throughout opening night.

I’ll lay the points with the Jazz here, as the absence of Murray makes Denver a far less credible threat to the top contenders in the West, especially with a slight rest disadvantage – and Utah will likely make light of that on Tuesday night.

Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz Betting Odds

More Odds | Futures Odds

Odds Provided by BetMGM - Subject to Change

• Nuggets +240
• Jazz -300
• Nuggets +7.5 -110
• Jazz -7.5 -110
• Over 219 -110
• Under 219 -110

Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz Betting Resources

• Matchup: Northwest
• Date: Tuesday, October 26, 2021
• Venue: Vivint Arena
• Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
• TV-Time: TNT - 10:00 p.m. ET

• Injury Report

Denver Nuggets Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 2-0
• ATS: 1-1
• O/U: 0-2
• ATS - Home: 1-0
• ATS - Away: 0-1

After losing Murray to a knee injury during last year’s regular season, expectations regarding Denver quickly plummeted, as the Nuggets (-120) ventured into their first-round playoff series narrowly favored over the lower-seeded Blazers (+100).

Once Murray returns, the Nuggets appear fully capable of ranking alongside the top contenders in the conference, and the oddsmakers will eventually bestow respect upon them once they reach full strength.

Until they reach that point though, try to avoid Denver in short underdog spots, as the only reliable component to the Nuggets’ offense is Jokic – and when facing top-tier squads like the Jazz, Michael Malone needs heightened production from everybody he puts on the floor.

Utah Jazz Betting Analysis

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

• SU: 2-0
• ATS: 2-0
• O/U: 0-2
• ATS - Home: 1-0
• ATS - Away: 1-0

After posting the best record in the league during last year’s regular season, Utah’s playoff run came to a surprisingly abrupt halt in the second round, as the Jazz drew the fourth-seeded Clippers – and despite

Kawhi Leonard’s devastating injury in Game 3, L. A. prevailed in just six games.

The Utah Jazz have covered the spread in both of their games played so far this season, going UNDER in both as well. (AP)

Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz Lakers Head-to-Head

The Jazz won two-of-three regular season matchups against Denver last year, with two of those contests soaring over the number set for Tuesday’s affair (246 PPG) – and the other staying comfortably below it (214 PTS).

Murray participated in Denver’s first two matchups against Utah back in January, which yielded an even 1-1 split – but the third bout took place following Murray’s injury, and the Nuggets ended up surrendering 127 points on the way to a disappointing second loss to the Jazz.

Key Players to Watch

• DEN: Nikola Jokic - C (29.5 ppg, 14.5 rpg, 4.5 apg)
• DEN: Michael Porter, Jr. - SF (11 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.5 apg)
• UTA: Donovan Mitchell - SG (21.5 ppg, 4 rpg, 4 apg)
• UTA: Rudy Gobert - C (16.5 ppg, 20.5 rpg)

Injuries

• DEN: Vlatko Cancar - SF (Out)

Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz Betting Conclusion

After thumping the Thunder and Spurs by an average of 15 PPG to kick things off, the Jazz head into their third matchup as generous home favorites over the visiting Nuggets – yet still the shortest total Utah has been favored by this season.

I’ll lay the points with the Jazz here, as squaring off against three-time Defensive Player of the Year,Rudy Gobert, will be incredibly difficult for Jokic at this point in the season – which is why I’m also taking the reigning MVP’s points under in Tuesday’s affair.

Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz Betting Trends

• TBD

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