Wednesday NBA Straight Wager

By Don Phillips

Wednesday, November 25, 2015
10:30 PM ET – Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA

Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Clippers

The Clippers have lost three consecutive games, dating back to Nov. 19 vs. GSW. LAC last lost four consecutive games from Feb. 2 through Feb. 8, 2015, before going 23-7 in their last 30 games to close the 2014-15 season. The Clippers last dropped five straight games from Feb. 22 through Feb. 28, 2011.

For the first time in five years, the Clippers (6-7) have a record under the .500 mark more than 10 games into the season. The 2014-15 Cleveland Cavaliers started 6-7 before making a run to the NBA Finals.

Blake Griffin was held scoreless in the first half for just the second time in his career (11/26/12 vs. NO) on his way to finishing with nine points in the Clippers loss to Toronto on Nov. 22, marking just the 10th game in his NBA career in which he scored in single digits and the first since 3/29/14 at Houston. Griffin has averaged 17.6 points per game in the games following those in which he scored in single digits. LAC is 6-4 in games in which Griffin has scored fewer than 10 points.

Through their first seven games, the Clippers shot 27.6% (43-of-156) from three-point range. In their six games since, LA has made a vast improvement, shooting 38.4% (55-of-157) from deep, raising their season 3PT% to 31.3%.

The Utah Jazz currently lead the NBA in points per game allowed in the paint (36.0) and are
tied for 12th in points scored in the paint per game (43.8), giving them a league-best 7.8 points per game advantage.

Trey Burke and Alec Burks have provided the Jazz with a proficient scoring attack off the bench during the 2015-16 season. The duo rank second (Burks) and ninth (Burke) in the NBA in bench scoring, respectively. The two Jazzmen are the second highest scoring pair of teammates off the bench in the league, totaling 28.2 points per game between them.

The Utah Jazz are one of five teams since 1975-76 to start a season with eight of the first 10 games on the road. Furthermore, the Jazz and the Toronto Raptors are the first teams since the 2012-13 Cleveland Cavaliers to start with 10 of 14 on the road (the most road appearances through 14 games in Utah history).

The betting public is correct when moving the money line in UTAH games 50.1% of the time since 1996. (640-637) The betting public is correct when moving the total in UTAH games 52.1% of the time since 1996. (738-678)
The betting public is correct when moving the total in UTAH games 59.9% of the time over the past 3 seasons (97-65)

Key Player Injuries

UTAH
[C] 11/24/2015 – Rudy Gobert “?” Wednesday vs. LA Clippers ( Tailbone )
[G] 10/23/2015 – Dante Exum out for season ( Knee )

LA CLIPPERS
[PG] 11/23/2015 – Pablo Prigioni “?” Tuesday vs. Denver ( Illness )

Selection: Utah +4.5