Utah Jazz vs Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Pick & Prediction 12/23/24
At 7:00 ET, the Cleveland Cavaliers (-991) will host the Utah Jazz (+640) in a non-conference matchup. The Cavaliers are favored by 14 points, and the over/under line is set at 232.5.
Utah comes into this game with a 7-20 record, which puts them 14th in the Western Conference. They have won two games in a row. Cleveland is 25-4 and has won four straight. They are currently the top team in the Eastern Conference.
UTAH JAZZ VS CLEVELAND CAVALIERS BETTING PICK
The Pick: Utah Jazz +14
This game will be played at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse at 7:00 ET on Monday, December 23rd.
WHY BET THE UTAH JAZZ:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 137-130 in favor of the Jazz.
- Our projections have Lauri Markkanen finishing with 21 points, 7 rebounds and 2 assists.
- From the field, we have the Jazz finishing with a field goal percentage of 47.1% and knocking down 15 threes.
Will the Jazz Win in Cleveland?
Utah improved to 7-20 this season with a 105-94 win over the Nets on Saturday. The Jazz, who were +1.5 point underdogs, not only won but covered the spread. The total points for the game were 199, falling well short of the 220.5 O/U line.
After trailing 24-19 at the end of the 1st quarter, Utah took control by outscoring Brooklyn 31-21 in the 2nd quarter and 25-18 in the 3rd. They entered the 4th quarter with a 75-63 lead and held off the Nets, who edged them 31-30 in the final period.
Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 21 points in their win over the Nets, scoring 14 in the 4th quarter despite shooting just 38.1% from the field and 23.1% from three. Svi Mykhailiuk and Collin Sexton each added 18 points, with Mykhailiuk hitting 4 threes at a 50% rate.
Utah made 14 threes as a team, shooting 34.1% from deep and 47.7% overall. Sexton and Mykhailiuk both scored 8 points in the 2nd quarter, while Markkanen’s big 4th quarter helped secure the win.
The Jazz put on a defensive clinic against the Nets, giving up just 94 points in the win. They held Brooklyn to 24 points in the 1st quarter, 21 in the 2nd, and a mere 18 in the 3rd. Even with a 31-point 4th quarter, Utah’s defense was solid throughout.
Utah limited the Nets to 40% shooting, including just 17% from beyond the arc, where Brooklyn made only 7 threes. The Jazz also recorded 11 steals and 8 blocks in the game.
Does Cleveland Have What it Takes at Home?
The Cavaliers improved to 25-4 on the season with a dominant 126-99 win over the 76ers on Saturday. Playing at home, Cleveland entered the game as 9-point favorites and covered the spread with ease. The total points for the game reached 225, just over the pre-game line of 221.5.
After a 30-30 tie in the 1st quarter, Cleveland took control by outscoring Philadelphia 36-25 in the 2nd and 33-21 in the 3rd. Heading into the 4th with a 99-76 lead, the Cavaliers went on a 10-0 run, stretching the score from 107-82 to 117-82.
The Cavaliers put on an offensive show in their win over the 76ers, shooting 53.3% from the field and hitting 22 three-pointers at a 51.2% clip. Darius Garland led the way with 26 points, connecting on 6 threes at 85.7% efficiency.
Evan Mobley added 22 points and 13 rebounds, while Donovan Mitchell contributed 19 points, 13 of which came in the 1st quarter. Garland scored 13 points in the 3rd quarter, and Mobley added 10 in the same period.
The Cavaliers tightened up defensively after a shaky 1st quarter, allowing just 69 points over the final three periods to hold the 76ers to 99 points. Cleveland’s defense was particularly strong in the 3rd quarter, where they gave up just 21 points.
Overall, the Cavaliers held the 76ers to 40% shooting from the field, including 32% from beyond the arc, where Philadelphia made 11 threes. Cleveland also recorded 8 steals and 1 block in the game.