Simulation Picks
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Expert Picks
There's really no point taking the 2-point spread here as it's rather unlikely that the Suns lose by that few points, so we'll go with the moneyline and the slightly better value on the outright win. Both teams appear healthy, which is terrific in a game of this magnitude. This is the deepest into a season that the Suns have been part of a matchup featuring the league's two best records since April 1, 2007. On New Year's Eve, the Suns won by 11 in Salt Lake City, but I don't take a ton from that. I'm simply taking the home team here, just as I would on Utah if the game was there. The Jazz are 1-4 ATS in their past five on the road.
The Jazz had their nine-game winning streak snapped by Dallas on Monday, while the Suns enter this matchup having won six straight. The last time these teams met, Phoenix posted an 11-point victory in Utah. The Suns have home-court advantage for the rematch, which is big when you consider they are 17-9 ATS at home. Also, they are 12-2 ATS against teams that have won at least 55 percent of their games, while the Jazz are only 7-6 ATS in the same scenario. Give me the points in what could end up being a win for Phoenix.
One of the most important regular-season games remaining in the Western Conference as the Suns look to catch the Jazz for the best record in the West. My model simulations forecast Phoenix covering as a short dog 67 percent of the time and in fact winning outright 61 percent.