Injuries have been the biggest story of the Utah Jazz-Los Angeles Clippers first-round series, and the Jazz will hope to have a healthy Gordon Hayward available when they visit the Clippers on Tuesday in a pivotal Game 5 with the series tied at two games apiece. Oddsmakers initially set the Clips as 3.5-point underdogs with a total of 196.
Hayward came down with food poisoning on Sunday and was only able to play nine minutes in Utah’s 105-98 victory over the Clippers. The veteran is expected to give it a go in Tinseltown, especially since he tried to play on Sunday before being sent home at halftime in Game 4. The Jazz had already played three games without star big man and defensive stalwart Rudy Gobert, who went down in the first minute of Game 1 and didn’t get back on the floor until Sunday.
The Clippers are playing without Blake Griffin, who has been ruled out for the remainder of the postseason with a toe injury. Marreese Speights was largely ineffective in Griffin’s place in their first game without the all-star, finishing with five points on 2-for-8 shooting. L.A. will need to rely on the backcourt play of Chris Paul, Jamal Crawford and J.J. Redick for the remainder of the series as a result.
Just how close has this series been? The first four games were all decided by eight or fewer points.
While the Jazz found success at home, it’s been a different story in Los Angeles. Despite winning Game 1, Utah is 2-10 straight up in its last 12 trips to Staples Center.
Sportsbook Odds & Computer Pick
Sportsbooks such as Sportsbook had the Los Angeles Clippers installed as -3.5-point favorites in this particular NBA matchup. The over-under betting line for the total number of point scored was listed by most sportsbooks, including Sportsbook, at 196.5.
Prediction-scoring formulas run on this game pick a potential 107-97 result in favor of the Clippers. View the computer score prediction and who will win the pick on the moneyline for all upcoming NBA matchups here.
Utah Jazz vs Los Angeles Clippers Matchup
Team Betting Records & Power Rankings
The Los Angeles Clippers currently sport a record of 53-33, and have posted a corresponding betting slate of 41-44-1 ATS. The Utah Jazz are 53-33 and 40-43-3 ATS. Betting totals have seen the Clippers post a 45-40-1 OVER/UNDER record this season, while the Jazz have gone 44-42 against the total number of points scored. Stay Informed: follow us on Twitter for odds specials, betting line moves and Los Angeles vs Utah injuries news.
This game pits the Los Angeles Clippers, currently No. 4 in the Odds Shark NBA Power Rankings, against the Utah Jazz, who rate No. 10 in the most recent survey update.
Statistical Matchup
When it comes to rebounds, the visiting Utah Jazz rank No. 20 in the league with 42.85 per game. That compares with Los Angeles's No. 23 ranking in that category. The story is different when it comes to three-point shooting where Los Angeles is the NBA's No. 9-ranked team at 10.15 per game, while the Utah Jazz rate No. 13 with 9.69 per contest.
Recent Outings Betting Recap
Next Betting Matchups
Utah home to Los Angeles, Friday, April 28th