Utah Jazz vs Portland Trail Blazers Prediction, Betting Odds, Picks

• The Utah Jazz enter this game on a four-game win streak!
• The Portland Trail Blazers continue to tumble down the Western Conference table, losing their last two and sitting 11th in the West.
• The Jazz blew out the Trail Blazers in their last meeting this season, 107-129.

Utah Jazz vs Portland Trail Blazers Odds

Odds provided by Caesars Sportsbook.

Take a look at the best betting bonuses!

Utah Jazz vs Portland Trail Blazers Predictions and Picks

The Portland Trail Blazers’ already unreliable defense has been weakened further due to their health & safety issues and lack of familiarity with exception players. Add on the fact that the Utah Jazz are a deep and consistent side, the Trail Blazers aren’t favored in this meeting.

Pick:

Utah Jazz def. Portland Trail Blazers

Check out our NBA betting bonuses and promo codes here!

Injury Report

How Can the Jazz Beat the Trail Blazers?

The Utah Jazz are one of the most versatile teams in the NBA. If they want to take down the shorthanded Trail Blazers, Utah must create better offensive opportunities for each other.

In their last game, a 6-point win over the San Antonio Spurs, the Jazz shot just 29% from three-point range while assisting on just 19 of their 39 field goals.

While they are not the most dynamic passing team in the NBA, the lack of Donovan Mitchell in the lineup forces them to put forth a more egalitarian effort.

Jazz Key Player: (G) Jordan Clarkson

?| flowers for JC#TakeNote | @ZionsBank pic.twitter.com/UgkJKmLM47

— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) December 28, 2021

The Utah Jazz are missing Donovan Mitchell in this game, so naturally scoring duties fall to reigning NBA Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson.

The backup Jazz guard is coming off of a monstrous night against the San Antonio Spurs. Clarkson posted 23 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists on 9 of 21 shooting from the field and 32 minutes of play.

When it comes to Jordan Clarkson, efficiency isn’t the most important thing. That comes from the privilege of having one of the league’s best defence, so there’s no reason Clarkson shouldn’t get his shots up.

How Can the Trail Blazers Beat the Jazz?

The Portland Trail Blazers have their hands full with this matchup against the Jazz. Not only have the Jazz had their number of the past few seasons, but Portland are missing a number of key contributors.

For Portland to beat the Jazz, they need to find a way to overcome Rudy Gobert at the rim. In their last game, the Trail Blazers shot just 12 of 40 from three-point range, and only 42.7% from the field overall. The only reason they weren’t blown out by more than 15 was their ability to get to the free throw line – where they went 35 of 42.

The Blazers aren’t the sharpest shooting team, but if they can manufacture good opportunities they’ll always have a chance behind Damian Lillard. Opening up the paint by hitting efficiently from deep is a great way to draw the Jazz out of the paint.

Trail Blazers Key Player: (G-F) Norman Powell

DUNK of the Night: May 10th

? Norman Powell of the @trailblazers pic.twitter.com/hxD0QXlpSd

— NBA Canada (@NBACanada) May 11, 2021

With the Portland Trail Blazers suffering from player unavailability like many across the NBA, Norman Powell must improve on his last game with the Trail Blazers.

In a 132-117 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, Powell posted 15 points on just 3 of 12 shooting from the field and 1 of 7 shooting from three. The one place where he deserves credit is his ability to get to the free throw line, where he was 7 of 8 on the evening.

With McCollum out of the lineup, Powell is expected to support Damian Lillard as the Trail Blazers’ secondary scorer and playmaker. If the 2019 NBA Champion has an efficient night from the field, they’ll have a chance against the Western Conference powerhouse Utah Jazz.

How to Watch Utah Jazz vs Portland Trail Blazers