Jazz vs. Clippers Predictions, Odds, Preview

VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert

5 minute read

June 12, 2021

by Michael Crosson
NBA Expert
VegasInsider.com

Western Conference NBA action will resume on Saturday night with the Jazz and Clippers set to square off for Game 3 at 8:30 Eastern time on ABC in the lone matchup of the evening.

Jazz vs. Clippers Betting Resources

Matchup: Western Conference Playoffs
Expert Picks: Vegas Insiders
Venue: STAPLES Center
Location: Los Angeles, California
Date: Saturday, June 12, 2021
Time: 8:30 p.m. ET
TV: ABC
Bet: BetMGM | betrivers |FanDuel |bet365 |DraftKings |Best Sportsbooks

Betting Odds - Jazz vs. Clippers

Subject to Change

Spread: Clippers -4.5
Money-Line: L.A. -180, Utah +160
Total: 223.5

After dropping Games 1 and 2 in Salt Lake City, the Clippers return to the Staples Center for Game 3 as a -4.5-point favorite over the visiting Jazz – marking the first time Utah has been listed as an underdog this postseason.

The total for Saturday’s contest sits at OU 223, which appears to be appropriately stationed around the same numbers set in the first two matchups of this series – after a combined average of 224.5 points was scored across those events.

Donovan Mitchell and the Jazz head west looking for a 2-0 series lead over Paul George and the Clippers. (AP)

Jazz vs. Clippers Current Form

After dropping their postseason opener by a bucket without Donovan Mitchell on the floor, the top- seeded Jazz leisurely cruised to four straight wins over Memphis following the superstar’s return to the lineup in Game 2 – completing the gentleman’s sweep by an average of 11 points per victory in the opening round.

The Jazz didn’t skip a beat to kick off the second-round either, as they quickly jumped out to a two-game lead over L.A. to start their current series – forcing the Clippers into an uncomfortable position that probably feels a little too reminiscent for their liking, considering L.A. also trailed by two games early in the first round.

This time around though, the Clippers can find comfort in the fact their next two games will be played in Los Angeles – as opposed to hopping on a plane headed to Dallas after posting back-to-back losses against the Mavs’ last series.

Or L.A.’s return to Staples Center could administer more discomfort as it did for them in the last series, considering the Clippers went 1-3 at home and 3-0 on the road during their first-round victory over Dallas.

Jazz vs. Clippers Head-to-Head

The Jazz won two of three regular-season matchups against the Clippers on the year – with Utah’s pair of victories both staying 'under' due to an average of just 208 points being scored across them, and L.A.’s lone victory pushing at a total of 228 points scored (116-112).

The first matchup between these teams took place on New Year’s Day and resulted in a six-point home victory for the Jazz – as Utah hung in there as long as they could during the back-and-forth battle, but Mitchell ended up shooting them out of contention with his dismal performance from the field (15 points, 6-14 FG).

The following two meetings occurred in a Monday-Wednesday doubleheader back in February though and resulted in a 1-1 split – as Kawhi Leonard and Paul George both didn’t play during Utah’s blowout victory on the front half of the set, and L.A. bounced back with a narrow victory at full-strength on the back half.

Jun. 10, 2021 - Jazz 117 vs. Clippers 111, Utah -2.5, Over 222.5
Jun. 8, 2021 - Jazz 112 vs. Clippers 109, Utah -3, Under 221.5
Feb. 19, 2021 - Clippers 116 vs. Jazz 112, L.A. -1, Push 228
Feb. 17, 2021 - Jazz 114 at Clippers 96, Utah -6.5, Under 228
Jan. 1, 2021 - Jazz 106 vs. Clippers 100, Utah +3.5, Under 220

(SU-Straight Up, ATS - Against the Spread, OU - Over-Under)

Utah Jazz Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

Overall: 58-21 SU, 47-32 ATS, 39-39-1 OU
Road: 23-15 SU, 20-18 ATS, 19-18-1 OU

After pacing the Western Conference standings for most of the year, the Jazz closed out the regular season on a 10-6 stretch – which isn’t a terrible note to finish up on, especially with such a crucial piece of the lineup being absent during that timeframe.

In a tight race for the top seed against Phoenix though (51-21), that final run almost dropped Utah to second place in the standings – nearly landing them a tough matchup against the defending champs in the first round.

Luckily, Phoenix struggled along with them down the stretch and the Jazz managed to claim the Western Conference throne by a narrow one-game margin – earning them a five-game cakewalk against Memphis to kick off their postseason campaign.

All that being said, I’m a little nervous about backing Utah to pull off the upset in Game 3 – considering the Jazz haven’t won a game they were ‘dogs in since knocking off Milwaukee at Fiserv Forum back in early January (UTA +5.5).

Los Angeles Clippers Betting Outlook

Inside the Stats (2020-2021)

Overall: 51-30 SU, 43-37-1 ATS, 39-40-2 OU
Home: 27-13 SU, 22-18 ATS, 19-19-2 OU

After getting knocked off by Denver in the second round of last year’s postseason, I expected the Clippers to get the wheels churning at both ends of the floor much faster than they did against the Mavericks – considering L.A. stumbled out of the gate with two straight losses at the Staples Center to open the first round.

The Clippers caught a break on their two-game road trip to Dallas though – as Luka Doncic told media he was experiencing a significant amount of neck pain during his team’s loss in Game 3, which appeared to continue bothering him for the rest of the series.

Even if Doncic was completely healthy for those events, nobody could slow Kawhi during the waning days of the first round, as The Claw averaged 36.5 points on 70% from the field with his back against the wall in Games 6 and 7 – single-handedly carrying L.A. to a series victory over Dallas.

Kawhi has been somewhat restrained by the Jazz in his second-round matchup though, considering the superstar averaged just 22 points on 47% from the field across Games 1 and 2 in Salt Lake City.

Key Injuries

Utah Jazz

PG Mike Conley: Hamstring - Questionable

Los Angeles Clippers

C Serge Ibaka: Back - Out

Jazz vs. Clippers Player Prop Prediction

Best Bet: Kawhi Leonard Over 29.5 Points (+126)

After averaging 32 points on 61% shooting last series, Leonard has been pretty quiet on offense to begin L.A.’s second-round matchup against Utah – averaging just 22 points on 47% from the floor across the Clips’ back-to-back losses in Salt Lake City.

I’ll back The Claw to make some noise at the Staples Center in Game 3 though, as Kawhi has become known for turning into quite the showman whenever his team needs a spark – and they desperately need one here.