The Phoenix Suns are in Utah tonight needing a win to keep their postseason hopes alive on the Western Conference’s playoff bubble. We setup the game and offer a play backed by a NBA system that is hitting 76-percent
Utah averaged 111.8 points per game the past three seasons after a game where they hit more than 50-percent from beyond the arc
Phoenix and Utah is the last of five games on Tuesday’s NBA betting card and while it would normally face stiff competition for popularity at sports betting sites, the Suns and Jazz is the hottest ticket in town.
Miami and Boston hookup at 8 pm ET and Los Angeles Clippers are in Atlanta – all four assured of a first round series beginning this weekend. But if the Suns lose tonight, their season is done.
Utah has won three-straight games over the past week, needing overtime to get past the Dallas Mavericks and Orlando Magic. They are fourth in overall scoring at 99.7 points per game (PPG), have hit triple-digits in six of their past seven at home, and although the Jazz shied away from three-pointers much of the season, they have started to connect from beyond the arc.
3-POINT PLAY
On average, Utah attempted 12.7 longballs this season which was second-fewest in the league ahead of New Orleans. The Jazz’s last three opponents, Dallas, Portland and Orlando ranked 4th, 8th and 1st overall in three-point attempts and Utah’s Devin Harris has answered the call, nailing 13 of his 38 attempts from three-point land.
Utah’s average attempts have increased to 17.7 per game in the past three and Phoenix ranks middle of the pack with 19.7 points per game. Each of these teams can mix it up but we look for an up-tempo start to this contest with neither team wanting to fall off the pace early.
OVER/UNDER NOTEBOOK
The current NBA odds favor Utah -5 and but it’s the total who is getting all the attention. Online sportsbooks offered this game at 202.5 early this morning but it has jumped to 203.5 and even 204 at some shops.
With a total of 200 points or more, play the “Over” when a team (Utah) is coming off back-to-back ATS wins and has played four games or less in the past 10 days. The record for this profile is 22 overs and 7 unders in the past three years (76-percent).
NBA PICKS
Phoenix is 6-1 ATS in the past seven meetings between these teams but the Jazz have turned it up, going 5-2 ATS since losing to San Antonio April 8. We have a slight lean to the dog in what should be a close game but at 204 points or less, our play is on the total.
Pick: Take the Over
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