Nets vs. Jazz prediction: NBA odds, picks, best bets for Monday
The Brooklyn Nets have won consecutive games only once since mid-December, but they will look to do it for a second time Monday night at home against the Utah Jazz.
The Nets are coming off a victory over Houston on Saturday in a game they built a 28-point lead but had to hang on to win, 106-104. For anyone who bet on Brooklyn, it was a tough way to lose with the Nets closing as four-point favorites.
Cam Thomas led the Nets with 37 points as they improved to 3-12 in their last 15 games. Brooklyn, however, has failed to cover in five straight opportunities as a favorite.
(7:30 p.m. ET, YES)
Ben Simmons, who hasn’t played a game since Nov. 6 because of an impingement in his lower back, is listed as probable for the Nets on Monday night. While it should have little impact on the game as Brookly eases him back into the rotation slowly, it does add some intrigue to the matchup.
The Jazz would be in the NBA’s Play-In Tournament if the playoffs started today, which is incredible considering Utah began the season at 4-11.
After losing three straight in early December, Utah went on a 15-5 run before losing three in a row. The Jazz are coming off of back-to-back wins over the lowly Wizards and Hornets and will look to make it three in a row over an equally dismal Nets team.
Since Dec. 1, the Jazz has seven road wins, including upset victories over Philadelphia, Milwaukee, and Denver.
When the Nets and Jazz hooked up in Salt Lake City on Dec. 18, Utah won by 17 as three-point underdogs, snapping a three-game losing streak to Brooklyn.
The Jazz seek their first win at Barclays Center since 2020.
Utah is averaging a remarkable 130.1 points in their last 10 contests, led by Lauri Markkanen’s 25.1 points per game during the span.
Meanwhile the Nets own the NBA’s sixth-best defensive rating this month, thanks to the interior presence of center Nic Claxton, who will likely draw John Collins but will need to help contain Markkanen.
Brooklyn hasn’t been able to string together consecutive solid performances in over a month, so it’s hard to believe in them here, even at home.
And the Jazz have beaten much, much better teams on the road recently.
In what bookmakers have essentially called a pick-em game, let’s take the Jazz.
