Phoenix Suns vs Utah Jazz: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 11/18/2022

Time: 9 p.m. ET

Venue: Vivint Arena, Salt Lake City, UT

Where to watch: ATTSN-RM, BSAZ

DraftKings: Suns -1.5

FanDuel: Suns -2

BetMGM: Suns -1.5

Caesars: Suns -1.5

Suns: 9-5

Jazz: 10-6

Suns: won 130-119 vs. Warriors on Wednesday

Jazz: lost 118-111 vs. Knicks on Tuesday

We’re about a month into this NBA season, and the Utah Jazz have yet to fall off a cliff. Even after losing three in a row, there’s still a competitive team forming in Salt Lake City. But here comes another tough test on Friday in the form of the Phoenix Suns, a good measuring stick to see where Utah ranks as this season continues to unfold.

 

The Jazz have dropped three in a row since their 10-3 start and are coming off a 118-111 loss to the New York Knicks at home on Tuesday. Usually what’s been a team dominated by Lauri Markkanen’s scoring was taken over by a surprising 27-point, 11-rebound double-double from Kelly Olynyk in a losing effort. Unfortunately, Olynyk was the only one to put forth a formidable offensive effort for Utah.

 

Markkanen finished with 13 points, Mike Conley had 10 on 3 of 10 shooting, and Jordan Clarkson had 15 points but took 16 shots to get there.

 

"It's not like we're going through this three-game losing streak, like, 'Damn, we had no chance at any game, and we need to go back to the drawing board and rip up everything else,' you know? We're still right there, still competing," Olynyk said. "When we're playing well and playing together and doing what we did the first, whatever it was, games, we're a good basketball team."

 

This stretch starting Friday against Phoenix will be eight games in 13 days. Part of that stretch includes two against the Suns, who are coming off a 130-119 win over the struggling defending world champion Golden State Warriors to snap a two-game losing skid. The Suns had to stave off a 50-point effort from Steph Curry (which highlights all the problems with the Warriors right now).

 

Phoenix got a balanced scoring attack with a team-high 29 points from Cam Payne (playing in place of the injured Chris Paul), 27 from Devin Booker, and 23 points, nine rebounds and nine assists from Mikal Bridges.

 

"It's important to have a team," Booker said. "That gives you longevity and will get us through a season."

 

That’s the classic Pierre Dorion “we are a team mentality.” But in all seriousness, the Suns are dragging along without Paul and … among other things. I don’t know what it is, but it’s very hard to buy what the Suns are trying to sell right now. There’s this feeling of watching this team, knowing that they have almost everyone intact from a year ago, and yet this team feels off. Maybe it’s everything else in the league and so much parity, but I just don’t see it right now from Phoenix. Maybe time will tell, and that time could come Friday.

 

 

This is going to be the first time we see how resilient this Utah team is. They’re down three losses in a row, have been riding this high for a month and have to now look as a team with no true star in hopes of turning things around. I think they get it done here. Jazz by 8

Suns are 21-8 ATS when the line is between -3 and -3 the last 2 seasons.

Suns are 18-7 ATS off consecutive overs the last 2 seasons.

Suns are 40-22 ATS after covering in 2 straight games over the last 2 seasons.

Jazz are 32-18 ATS at home after playing their previous game at home the last 3 seasons.

PG: Cam Payne

SG: Devin Booker

SF: Mikal Bridges

PF: Torrey Craig

C: Deandre Ayton

PG: Mike Conley

SG: Jordan Clarkson

SF: Lauri Markkanen

PF: Jarred Vanderbilt

C: Kelly Olynyj

Suns: Chris Paul (heel, questionable), Landry Shamet (concussion, out)

Jazz: Rudy Gay (finger, out)

Points: Devin Booker -- 26.6

Rebounds: Deandre Ayton -- 7.7

Assists: Chris Paul -- 9.4

Points: Lauri Markkanen -- 21.2

Rebounds: Lauri Markkanen -- 8.4

Assists: Mike Conley -- 8.1