NBA Betting Preview: Utah Jazz vs. Indiana Pacers

Utah Jazz at Indiana Pacers
Tuesday, 2/7/12, 7:00 PM EST, TV: NBATV
Opening Point Spread: Indiana -8
Current Betting Line: Indiana -9
Opening Total: 190.5
Current Total: 193
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Bulls Pacers NBA Playoff Series Preview — Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger has enjoyed great success against the Utah Jazz

Utah will finish up a two-game road trip in playing the final game of a back-to-back situation, dropping a 99-88 decision to the New York Knicks as three-point road underdogs last night. It was a disappointing effort when considering the team was facing an opponent that was extremely shorthanded in the front court. “As you’ve seen out there, you come in here with that attitude, you’re in trouble,” commented Jazz head coach Tyrone Corbin. Utah is 2-6 on the road this season, with last night’s loss being the first against an Eastern Conference team away from Salt Lake City. Utah is 2-6 ATS on the road and the “under” is 5-3 in those contests.

The Jazz are 38-35 all-time against the Pacers, including a 13-23 mark on the road. Utah has won eight of the past 10 meetings, including a 95-84 victory in its last trip to Indiana on Feb. 25, 2011 as six-point underdogs. Four of the last five meetings in this series have gone “under” the total. Center Al Jefferson is the player to watch offensively, leading the team in scoring 16.5 points and grabbing 9.7 rebounds per game.

Indiana had its four-game win streak snapped in an 85-81 loss to the Orlando Magic as five-point home favorites on Saturday, while going “under” the total for the second consecutive game. “This is one of those tough games that we’re going to have,” commented Pacers forward Roy Hibbert. The Pacers shot a season-low 34.1 percent from the field and were held to their lowest point total of the 2011-12 season thus far. Indiana is 8-2 ATS as a home favorite of 6.5 to 9 points the last two-plus seasons.

The Packers are 6-2 at home during the season and will be hosting their first Western Conference opponent inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse tonight. Indiana has swept three back-to-backs and at least split all six of their back-to-backs during the 2011-12 season up to this point. Forward Danny Granger is certainly the player to watch on the offensive end, averaging 26.2 points on 48.4 percent shooting in his last five games versus the Jazz.