Utah (3-1) at Oklahoma City (1-3)
When: Wednesday, April 25th 2018
Where: Chesapeake Energy Arena, Oklahoma City, OK
Time: 9:35 ET | TV: NBA TV
Opening Odds: Oklahoma City -3/208
The Utah Jazz dropped their playoff opener in Oklahoma City, but have since run-off three-straight impressive victories to put the Thunder on the brink of elimination as we head into Game 5 of their Western Conference first round series Wednesday night. The Jazz are getting contributions from everyone, as all five starters scored at least 13 points in the 113-96 Game 4 victory in Salt Lake City. Donovan Mitchell led the way again with 33 points and seven rebounds, and became the highest scoring rookie in a playoff game in franchise history. Joe Ingles made five 3-pointers while scoring 20 points, and Rudy Gobert contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds as Utah moved one win away from clinching the series. The resurgent Ricky Rubio added 13 points and eight assists, and Derrick Favors also scored 13 points. Paul George scored 32 points and Russell Westbrook had 23 points and 14 rebounds for the Thunder, but the latter made just 7-of-18 field-goal attempts and Carmelo Anthony shot 5-of-18 while scoring 11 points. The testy contest featured seven technical fouls with Utah’s Jae Crowder being ejected with 5:30 remaining for delivering a left elbow into the nose of Oklahoma City’s Steven Adams. Also drawing technicals were Gobert, Ingles and coach Quin Snyder for the Jazz – Adams, George and Raymond Felton for the Thunder. Westbrook was fined $10,000 by the NBA for coming off the bench and confronting Gobert as well. Utah averaged 114 points in the two home victories – 10 more than their season average.
Mitchell is averaging 27.5 points and 8.5 rebounds as the best player in the series and his record-breaking 33-point effort in Game 4 surpassed Jazz legend Karl Malone (31 in 1986). Rubio is having a terrific series as a forgotten man with averages of 18.5 points, eight assists, 7.8 rebounds and two steals while Ingles has knocked down 10 3-pointers and averaging 20.5 points. Gobert has recorded three straight double-doubles and is averaging 15.3 points and 11 rebounds in the series.
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George (32) and Westbrook (23) got their points, but the team’s 5-of-26 effort from 3-point range really did them in. Westbrook has recorded a double-double in each game while averaging 21.3 points, 11.8 rebounds and 8.3 assists but is shooting just 36.7% from the field. Anthony is shooting just 37.3% in the series while averaging 14.3 points and 6.5 rebounds.
Utah has looked terrific in the last three games and even got a win on the road in this series, so they’re not intimidated by the opposing crowd. The shooting for Oklahoma City has been terrible – including Westbrook. This Utah team is more than just Mitchell on offense. Everyone is stepping up and I expect it to continue in Game 5.
Pick: Jazz +3.5
- Jazz are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Jazz are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Jazz are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.
- Jazz are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Jazz are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 Conference Quarterfinals games.
- Jazz are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
- Jazz are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Jazz are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Jazz are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Jazz are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games overall.
- Jazz are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 vs. Western Conference.
- Jazz are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 vs. NBA Northwest.
- Jazz are 13-6 ATS in their last 19 road games.
- Thunder are 14-6 ATS in their last 20 Wednesday games.
- Thunder are 17-36-1 ATS in their last 54 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Thunder are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 Conference Quarterfinals games.
- Thunder are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Thunder are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
- Thunder are 6-20 ATS in their last 26 vs. NBA Northwest.
- Thunder are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Thunder are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 vs. Western Conference.
- Thunder are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.
- Thunder are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 home games.
- Under is 7-0 in Jazz last 7 Wednesday games.
- Over is 8-1 in Jazz last 9 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Over is 12-3 in Jazz last 15 vs. Western Conference.
- Over is 4-1 in Jazz last 5 Conference Quarterfinals games.
- Over is 7-2 in Jazz last 9 road games.
- Over is 7-2 in Jazz last 9 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 9-3 in Jazz last 12 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Over is 6-2 in Jazz last 8 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 11-4 in Jazz last 15 overall.
- Over is 5-2 in Jazz last 7 vs. NBA Northwest.
- Over is 4-1 in Thunder last 5 overall.
- Over is 4-1 in Thunder last 5 vs. Western Conference.
- Over is 4-1 in Thunder last 5 vs. NBA Northwest.
- Under is 8-3 in Thunder last 11 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Under is 14-6 in the last 20 meetings.
- Home team is 21-9 ATS in the last 30 meetings.
- Under is 11-5 in the last 16 meetings in Oklahoma City.
- Jazz are 4-11-1 ATS in the last 16 meetings in Oklahoma City.
