Denver Nuggets vs. Utah Jazz Predictions, Picks, Odds

Michael Crosson Sports Betting Expert

4 minute read

Nationally televised NBA coverage will conclude on Wednesday night with a heavyweight Western Conference bout between the Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz. Coverage begins from Vivint Arena at 10:00 p.m. ET on ESPN.

SCORE PREDICTION

Nuggets 116, Jazz 107

BEST BETS

Nuggets +2 (-110) at BetMGM

DENVER NUGGETS VS. UTAH JAZZ PREDICTIONS

After finishing third in the West with a record of 47-25 SU last year, Denver posted a surprisingly pedestrian start to this season, as the Nuggets opened with a lackluster 20-19 SU and 16-23 ATS stretch – while averaging just 105.6 PPG offensively across that span.

The Nuggets dominated the back-half of January though, considering Denver enters Wednesday sitting at 8-3 SU and 5-6 ATS across their last 11 games – while racking up 122.3 PPG offensively and surrendering just 111.8 PPG defensively during that timeframe.

On the other hand, Utah stormed out to a triumphant start to the season, as the Jazz kicked things off with an imposing 28-10 SU and 19-18-1 ATS run – with 20 of those SU victories coming by 10+ PTS.

January has been a month to forget for the Jazz though, considering Utah enters Wednesday’s contest riding a frustrating 2-11 SU and 3-10 ATS skid – which includes head-scratching SU losses to the Pistons, Rockets, Pacers, and Cavaliers.

I’ll back Denver on the road here, as the Nuggets are 8-3 SU across their last ten games, while averaging roughly 122 PPG during that timeframe – likely presenting a steep uphill battle for a short-handed Jazz squad that’s scored 109 PTS or less in seven of their last 13 contests (106 PPG).

DENVER NUGGETS VS. UTAH JAZZ BETTING ODDS

More Odds | Futures Odds

DENVER NUGGETS VS. UTAH JAZZ BETTING RESOURCES

• Matchup: Northwest
• Date: Wednesday, February 2, 2022
• Venue: Vivint Arena
• Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
• TV-Time: ESPN - 10:00 p.m. ET
• Injury Report

DENVER NUGGETS BETTING ANALYSIS

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

• SU: 28-22
• ATS: 20-29-1
• O/U: 28-22

Despite the extended absence of Jamal Murray, Denver has played solid basketball so far this season, as the Nuggets hover at 5th place in the West with a record of 28-21 SU – currently trailing the fourth-place Jazz by just one game.

The Nuggets have experienced their fair share of additional health issues, highlighted by Michael Porter Jr. and Nikola Jokic both joining Murray on the sidelines recently. If Jokic is healthy enough to suit up for Wednesday’s matchup though, I still like my chances with Denver, considering the Nuggets have tallied 115+ PTS in seven of their last eight games (121 PPG) – while the Jazz have scored 111 PTS or less in eight straight events (104 PPG).

UTAH JAZZ BETTING ANALYSIS

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

• SU: 30-21
• ATS: 21-28-2
• O/U: 26-24-1

Utah has been one of the most consistent squads in the West across the last few regular seasons, which is no coincidence, considering the Jazz maintain a very well-balanced attack, as Quin Snyder’s team currently paces the league in offensive efficiency by a healthy margin (1.122 OE) – while also ranking 15th in defensive efficiency (1.066 DE).

Utah’s consistency quickly fades without the combined presence of Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert though, considering the Jazz have averaged just 106 PPG across their latest 2-11 skid – with nine of those SU losses coming in the absence of Mitchell or Gobert.

DENVER NUGGETS VS. UTAH JAZZ HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Jazz won two-of-three regular-season matchups against Denver last year, with the first contest staying under the total at a score of 109-105 – while the ensuing two events soared over at an average of 246 PPG. The Jazz are also 3-0 SU against Denver so far this season, with all three contests going over the total set for Wednesday’s affair at an average of 227.6 PPG.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

• DEN: Nikola Jokic - C (26 PPG, 13.7 REB, 7.8 AST)
• DEN: Aaron Gordon - PF (14.7 PPG, 5.6 REB, 2.5 AST)
• UTA: Bojan Bogdanovic - SF (17.9 PPG, 4.9 REB, 1.7 AST)
• UTA: Jordan Clarkson - SG (15.5 PPG, 3.5 REB, 2.4 AST)

DENVER NUGGETS VS. UTAH JAZZ BETTING CONCLUSION

After posting a fifth straight loss in Minnesota on Sunday night, the Jazz will return home for Wednesday’s contest as narrow underdogs against the Nuggets at Vivint Arena – marking the fifth time Utah has been an underdog across the last six games.

I’ll back Denver on the road here, as the Jazz enter Wednesday’s contests riding a depressing 2-11 SU and 3-10 ATS skid, while averaging just 106 PPG offensively during that timeframe – setting the stage for a tough home matchup against a Nuggets squad that’s scored 115+ PTS in seven of their last eight games (121 PPG).

DENVER NUGGETS VS. UTAH JAZZ BETTING TRENDS

• The Nuggets are 1-5 SU in their last six matchups against Utah.
• The Jazz are 2-7 SU in their last nine games.
• The total has gone OVER in eight of the last ten Nuggets' games.
• The total has gone UNDER in five of the last eight Jazz' games.

Michael Crosson

Michael Crosson began his time at VegasInsider as a freelance NBA writer back in 2019 while he continued to study Psychology and Biology at James Madison University. Following his graduation in 2021, Michael joined the team full-time, and he's been with VI ever since. Michael still writes NBA, NFL, and MLB for VI, as well as gambling industry news. He's also become a crucial part of our editorial production team. More from Michael Crosson