The Phoenix Suns (37-9) take the best record in the NBA on the road to face the Utah Jazz (30-18) on ESPN this Wednesday evening. This is a rematch from Monday night in Phoenix where the Suns only won 115-109 despite Utah being greatly undermanned.
Phoenix Suns vs. Utah Jazz
Wednesday, January 26, 2022 – 10:00 PM EST at Vivint Arena
The Suns (25-21 ATS) are a 4.5-point favorite over the Jazz (21-26-1 ATS) at BMR’s top-rated sportsbooks. Utah took an 87-85 lead into the fourth quarter on Monday night. Can the Jazz finish the job this time?
Monday Recap: Suns 115, Jazz 109
Little was expected of Utah on Monday night as a 12.5-point underdog on the road against the NBA’s best team. The Jazz has been one of the healthiest teams in the league this season, but on Monday, all five starters were inactive with an assortment of injuries.
Still, Utah was not completely without NBA talent or experience. Sixth man Jordan Clarkson led the way with 22 points in a rare start. Veteran Rudy Gay chipped in 13 points and five rebounds. Veteran Hassan Whiteside had 10 points and nine rebounds, trying to make up for center Rudy Gobert’s absence.
Utah’s bench, which had to be extra deep with the starters out, overachieved by shooting 7-of-11 from three. Utah shot 45.2% from three, the team’s highest 3P% in a loss this season. But despite trailing 31-21 after a quarter, the Jazz won the next two quarters and led 87-85 going into the fourth.
That’s when the talent of Phoenix won out and the Suns won the quarter 30-22. As usual, Chris Paul played the role of closer with 15 points in the fourth quarter to make up for a bad finish by Devin Booker, who was 0-for-6 from the field in the final 12 minutes. Booker attempted a season-high 35 field goals but only made 14 of them.
To be fair, the Suns were not whole in this game either. Starters Deandre Ayton and Jae Crowder were inactive as was key reserve, Cameron Payne. But the Suns were able to get their seventh win in a row.
It was however only the third time this season Phoenix won a game despite the opponent having a higher field goal percentage. It was also Phoenix’s worst free-throw shooting game of the season as the Suns made 8-of-15 (53.3%) from the line.
Who Plays Wednesday?
Beyond going back home where the Jazz is 15-9, there is good news on the injury front. While top players Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert remain out, the Jazz expects to get Mike Conley, Bojan Bogdanovic, and Royce O'Neale back as starters. Key reserve Joe Ingles should also play after missing Monday’s game.
For Phoenix, not only is Ayton still out at center but now so is his replacement, JaVale McGee. This should lead to more minutes for Bismack Biyombo, an all-time great name in sports. Biyombo played 31 minutes on Monday and scored 16 points.
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Over the last four games, he is averaging 15.7 points, 10.3 rebounds, and shooting 76.0% from the field. Basically, Chris Paul can make things work with any center, but the Jazz should field a more competitive roster than Monday night.
Phoenix is 14-8 ATS as a road team, the third-best record this year. Last season, no teams covered at home better than Utah (65.9%) and Phoenix (63.8%). This year is a different story. The Jazz is only 8-16 ATS at home, tied for the third-worst record.
Prediction
It is hard to bet against this Phoenix team right now. The Suns are 12-6 ATS as a road favorite, tied for the second-best winning percentage this season. This is only the fifth time all season Utah is an underdog, so it’s an unusual spot for this team without its two best players.
I like Booker to shoot less and get Mikal Bridges, who only scored four points Monday, more involved. Paul has been fantastic with at least 11 assists in his last four games. For my NBA picks, I trust the Suns to cover this spread on the road and sweep the Jazz this Wednesday.
NBA Pick: Suns -3.5 (-110) with Bovada (visit our Bovada Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
