LA Clippers at Utah Jazz Odds & Pick ATS 12/15/21

Los Angeles Clippers (16-12 SU, 13-15-0 ATS) vs. Utah Jazz (19-7 SU, 15-11-0 ATS)
When: Wednesday, Dec. 15th, 2021, 10:00 pm (ET)
Where: Vivint Arena, Salt Lake City, UT
TV: ESPN

Point Spread: LAC +9.5/UTAH -9.5 (Opened at 8.5 at SportsBetting.ag)
Total: 215.5 (Opened at 215.5)
Money Line: LAC +350/UTAH -470
Power Rating: UTAH -8

Probable Starting Lineups

Los Angeles Clippers: PG Reggie Jackson, SG Paul George (GTD), SG Terance Mann, SF Marcus Morris, C Ivica Zubac
Utah Jazz: PG Mike Conley, SG Donovan Mitchell, SF Bojan Bogdanovic, PF Royce O’Neale, C Rudy Gobert

Key Injuries

Los Angeles Clippers: G Nicolas Batum *Out* (Ankle), G Paul George *Questionable* (Elbow), G Jason Preston *Out* (Foot), F Kawhi Leonard *Out* (Knee)

Utah Jazz: F Rudy Gay *Probable* (Personal), C Hassan Whiteside *Probable* (Glute), C Udoka Azubuike *Out* (Ankle)

Recent Form

The Clippers started the month of December 1-2 with two losses to the Kings but have since caught heat with four straight wins. Last time on the court, the Clippers had one of their most impressive outings of the season, putting up 111 points and holding the Suns to just 95 on the night. In their four-game streak, they averaged 108.6 points offensively and gave up 100 points a night. Paul George leads the team with 25.0 PPG and leads the team in assists and steals per game as well. The team moves the ball well, getting everyone involved, as they have six players averaging double-digit points. Los Angeles on the season averages 106.2 PPG offensively and gives up 104.3 PPG defensively, giving the team a 1.9-point differential.

The Utah Jazz is also one of the hottest teams in the NBA, with a league-best seven-game win streak and winners of eight of their last nine games. The Jazz return home Wednesday after a four-game trip against eastern conference teams with notable wins over the 76ers and Wizards. On their impressive seven-game streak, the Jazz have the highest-scoring offense, averaging 125.6 PPG. The Jazz offense is led in scoring by Donovan Mitchell, who is averaging 24.8 PPG. On the season, the Jazz offense is averaging a league-best 115.3 PPG and giving up 104.2 PPG. Utah’s 11.1-point differential is only 2nd to the Golden State Warriors.

Pace of Play

The pace for this one isn’t expected to be a barn burner up and down the court, as both teams sit in the middle of the pack for pace of play. The Clippers are the faster-paced team of the two at 102.2 possessions a game. Without Paul George though, their last three games put them among the slower teams, as the team has relied more on their defense and keeping the ball away from other teams. The Utah Jazz have held their 101.1 possessions a game pretty steady all season, having a good mix of offense, but knowing when to slow it down against other good offenses. While the Jazz are the top scoring offense, with or without Paul George, I see the Clippers using their recipe that has worked for them, and that’s slowing down the pace and keeping control of the game as much as they can. If unsuccessful and the Jazz keep rolling, this game may show some value in the total as 215.5 is a number that both teams have shown lately can be covered.

Clippers Hot with or Without PG

One thing that has impressed me more than the Clippers’ four-game win streak is that they got three of them without leading scorer Paul George. Though their games against the Celtics and Magic came down to the very end, it ultimately came down to their offense, who before the streak was struggling to keep up with any team. In the absence of Paul George, Reggie Jackson and Marcus Morris have stepped up to fill the scoring void. With George in question to take the floor Wednesday, it is going to take another all-star effort from this duo to keep up with the high-scoring Jazz offense. If George does suit up, I expect him to step back into his lead role and allow the game to come to Jackson and Morris more than forcing themselves to step up as they’ve had to over the past week. While Utah’s seven-game win streak of their own may seem intimidating, they are just 3-10 ATS in their last 13 games against teams with a winning record. This means that while stealing a win in Utah won’t be easy, the Clippers have a good shot to keep it close with a 9.5-point spread against them.

Clippers Play Well as Dogs

Without their top scorer recently and overall struggling this season offensively, the Clippers have seen their fair share of games as underdogs. That hasn’t fazed LA, though, as the team is 7-3 ATS in their last ten games as underdogs and 4-1 ATS in their last five games as road dogs. Heading into Utah once again as 9.5-point underdogs, the Clippers have an opportunity to make bettors happy by keeping this game within single digits, which I think is very doable. Also worth noting is that the Clippers are 4-0 ATS in their last four meetings against Utah.

The Historicals

Wednesday will be the first time this season that these teams face off. Looking back at the last two seasons, the Jazz won four of the six games, though the Clippers were victorious last time on the court in a 116-112 final.

How the Public is Betting the Clippers vs. Jazz

52% are betting the Clippers against the spread.
51% are wagering on the game to go over the posted total of 215.5.

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Betting Trends Worth Noting

• The Los Angeles Clippers are 4-0 ATS in their last four games playing on one days’ rest.
• The Los Angeles Clippers are 4-1 ATS in their last five games as a road underdog.
• The Utah Jazz is 5-2 ATS in their last seven games as a favorite.
• The Utah Jazz is 3-10 ATS in their last 13 games vs. teams with a winning record.
• Over is 4-1 in the Clippers’ last five games vs. teams with a winning record.
• Over is 5-1 in the Jazz’s last six home games.
• Over is 4-1 in the last five matchups between these teams.
• The Los Angeles Clippers are 4-0 ATS in their last four games vs. Utah.

Collin’s Pick for Clippers/Jazz

This Wednesday night matchup features two teams who are on the best stretches in the NBA. The Clippers have tightened up their defense without Paul George and will have to do the same with or without him against the league’s top offense. I like the grit of this Clippers team going into this game and see 9.5 points being too much for the Jazz to cover. Take the Los Angeles Clippers against the 9.5-point spread.