Utah Jazz at Phoenix Suns
Tuesday, 2/15/11, 9:00 PM EDT
Opening Point Spread: Phoenix -4.5
Current Betting Line: Phoenix -4.5
Opening Total: 205.5
Current Total: 205.5
Utah will try to give interim coach Tyrone Corbin his first win in Tuesday night’s contest against Phoenix after blowing a double-digit halftime lead against them just three days earlier. “It was very emotional to start the game and we played off of that, but eventually it ran out,” said forward Paul Millsap. “Mentally, the guys were drained. It’s been a tough few days with the losses and what happened with coach on top of that.” The team is 31-24 overall and 14-12 on the road this season, including a 9-8 mark versus Western Conference opponents. Much controversy has been swirling around after the departure of longtime coach Jerry Sloan and point guard Deron Williams has simply had enough. “We all love coach Sloan,” he commented. “We all love to play for him. He just said it’s his time.” Utah is 25-30 ATS on the season and currently a road underdog on the NBA lines page.
The Jazz trail 71-82 all-time in the series against the Suns, including a 22-55 mark on the road. Utah has lost its last four games against Phoenix. The squad will look to revenge a 95-83 home loss versus tonight’s opponent, blowing a 31-19 first quarter lead by scoring just 14 points in the final 12 minutes. Injuries will have the team shorthanded in Tuesday’s contest, as forward Andrei Kirilenko is out with a sprained right ankle and starting guard Raja Bell is a game-time decision with a strained calf injury.
Phoenix is coming off a disappointing 113-108 loss to the Kings last time out and had its three-game winning streak snapped in the process. “They just kept scoring and kept scoring and we couldn’t stop them,” said center Marcin Gortat. “And when we did stop them, we couldn’t execute.” It was an inexcusable loss when considering its opponent had just 12 wins and was missing rookie DeMarcus Cousins. The team is 15-12 overall at home on the year, including an 8-7 mark against Western foes. Phoenix is 12-15 ATS when playing at home this season and 3-5 ATS off an upset loss as a favorite.
The Suns have won the first two meetings of the season, both in Utah, and will have the opportunity to sweep the season series for the first time since 1982-83 and for just the fourth time in the history of the series. Phoenix has won eight of the last 15 in the series at US Airways Center. Only three NBA teams own a better record than the squad’s 11-5 mark since January 12 and the team has won five of its last six games against teams with winning records.
Bettors will be interested in backing the Suns due to their 6-2 ATS mark, while the Jazz are 0-5 ATS when playing on three or more days of rest.
