Houston Rockets (70-19 SU, 45-43-1 ATS) vs. Utah Jazz (53-47 SU, 47-43 ATS)
Time: Friday, May 4th, 2018 10:30 PM EDT
Where: Vivint Smart Home Arena Salt Lake City, UT
TV: ESPN
by Keith, Professional NBA Handicapper, Predictem
Odds Houston -175, Utah +155
Point Spread: Utah +4
Total Line: 209
The Utah Jazz will host the Houston Rockets for Game Three of the Western Conference Semifinals. The game is set to tip-off at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah on Friday, May 4th, 2018 at 10:30 PM EDT. The game will be televised for national audiences on ESPN. Game Two provided a result that sent shockwaves across the basketball landscape. The Jazz went into Houston and pulled an outright upset of the Rockets on their own floor, to hand them just their eighth loss at home this season. The final tally was an impressive one, the Jazz would win 116-108. Previous to this, the Rockets had won the last five meetings between both teams. In Game One, the Rockets procured a far different result. Houston defeated the Jazz by a margin of 110-96 at home covering an 11.5-point line in this fixture.
The Jazz have illustrated why they are a team that should not be trifled with. Utah previous to their encounter with the Rockets, defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in six games a series many thought this outfit would lose. For Houston, it was all academic for the top seed. The Rockets dispatched the eight seed Timberwolves in just five games.
There are many key betting trends to focus on in Game Three. To begin, the Rockets are 32-11 SU in games outside of Houston. Utah is a potent 31-13 SU in Salt Lake City. In meetings between the two sides, Houston remains 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings. The Over is 7-3 ATS in the last ten meetings between both parties.
Utah showcased that it does indeed have a blueprint to be an effective against the Rockets. As mentioned, the Jazz own advantages in the defense, rebounding, and bench categories further reinforced by a more efficient field goal percentage. These tenants were embodied when Jazz guard Joe Ingles led the team with 27 points in Game Two. Moreover, the Jazz held the Rockets to 24% shooting in the fourth quarter. The talk of the town was their defensive play against this catalytic Houston offense.
The fact remains the Rockets are on paper the best team in the West. The play of both James Harden and Chris Paul has been stellar all season long. A popular presumption here is that the talent of this team will be able to produce enough output here to lift Houston to a Game Three victory.
From out of the gate, there has been a lean on the Jazz reflected in the market falling by half of a point since the open. On the contrary, we have seen 82% of the public cash and 68% of the ticket action come in on Clutch City. In Over/Under markets, we have seen the figure rise by two points to indicate action on the Over. 75% of the cash and 87% of the public ticket action is on the Over to affirm this trend.
The temptation to play the Jazz on the Money Line exists strong here. Game Two provided the Jazz with the spark it needed to believe it can be competitive in this series. Now, the Jazz have the opportunity to take this series home to Salt Lake for two games and potentially build a 3-1 lead. The Jazz are a dangerous team because they are filled with young talent that play with their backs against the wall. A team that is defense-oriented like this one can be competitive in any contest it plays in if the operations are running smoothly like it did in the last episode. The Jazz with points here offer value.
KEITHs PICK: Utah +4 at 5Dimes to get the best line on this game and guys if you don’t have an account here, now is the time to save money during the NBA playoffs and all season long in MLB!