Pro Basketball Picks: Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Clippers

Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Clippers
Sunday, 12/30/12, 9:30 PM EST, TV: PRIME
Opening Point Spread: Los Angeles -10
Current Betting Line: Los Angeles -9
Opening Total: 194.5
Current Total: 195.5
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

The Los Angeles Clippers tallied a big come-from-behind win over the Utah Jazz Friday night

Utah has dropped four of its last five games, including a 116-114 setback to the Los Angeles Clippers as three-point home underdogs Friday night, while going OVER the posted total of 191.5. “It’s going to be another hard-fought contest on their home floor and we need a win,” commented Jazz coach Tyrone Corbin. The Jazz will need to continue getting major production out of Randy Foye, who is averaging 23.5 points in two meetings against his former team this year. Utah is 6-8 ATS as an underdog this year, with the OVER going 9-5 in that situation.

The Jazz are 6-12 when playing away from EnergySolutions Arena, which includes a dismal 2-8 mark versus Western Conference opponents. Utah has won 10 of the last 16 meetings in this series, but has dropped the first two during the 2012-13 campaign by three combined points.

Los Angeles will try to become the third team in NBA history to complete a perfect 16-0 month Sunday, as it was able to overcome a 19-point second-half deficit versus the Jazz last time out. “This one is a great win for us because we kind of needed a challenge,” stated Clippers forward Blake Griffin. He tallied his 13th double-double of the season, scoring 22 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. The franchise is 14-3 at the Staples Center this year, including a 9-2 mark versus conference rivals. Los Angeles is 3-0 ATS when playing on Sunday, which can’t be ignored when making your NBA picks against the spread.

The Clippers and Jazz are two of the top teams in the league in scoring, averaging 102.2 and 98.6 points per game respectively. Of the previous 22 teams to win at least 16 consecutive games, 17 of them advanced to the NBA Finals. Los Angeles is outscoring opponents by an average of 10.1 points per game for the entire season, but that differential is +15.4 during their 16-game win streak, including 11 wins by 12 or more points.