Nets vs. Jazz NBA Picks and Odds Breakdown (Archive)
The Brooklyn Nets are in the midst of a six-game losing streak as they head into Utah to play their third game in four nights. Can we trust the Nets or will the Utah Jazz regroup with their star player coming back tonight? Here is all you need to know for your NBA picks.
Brooklyn Nets vs. Utah Jazz
Friday, February 04, 2022 – 09:00 PM EST at Vivint Arena
Donovan Mitchell Back for Jazz
Donovan Mitchell has missed the last eight games for the Jazz due to concussion protocol but he has been cleared from protocol and is available to make his return tonight for Utah.
While Brooklyn has struggled without Kevin Durant, the Jazz have similarly struggled without their top star.
Utah has lost six of those eight games that Mitchell has been out and lost a couple of them by embarrassing margins.
They were able to win their most recent game against the Nuggets despite missing a ton of guys and while the Nets have been anything but good lately, this won’t be an easy game for Utah, even with Mitchell coming back.
The Jazz will still be without Rudy Gobert tonight, who is arguably as important as Mitchell is, and the Jazz are also dealing with other injuries that continue to hurt them.
Joe Ingles is out for the rest of the season, while Jordan Clarkson and Hassan Whiteside are both questionable for this game.
If Whiteside can’t play, the Jazz may be a revolving door defensively in this one. Add in the potential for Clarkson to miss another game and their bench offense is greatly depleted.
Add in Mitchell coming back and potentially being rusty and the Jazz are in no way a lock to win this game.
The problem is we can’t trust the Nets that much either, but considering their losing streak, I could see them coming up with a strong effort in this game against a damaged opponent.
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The Sharp Pick
On/off splits on sites like Basketball-Reference can be a little shaky at times and not tell the whole picture, but for a player like Durant, it’s evident that the Nets are going to need the Slim Reaper if they want to win a championship.
Without Durant on the floor this season, the Nets lose at least two points per 100 possessions on offense and another four on defense.
That being said, a lot of those numbers have been accrued with Kyrie Irving not playing at all. With him back in the fold, it makes the lack of Durant easier to make up for.
Along with that, with Gobert off the court this season, the Jazz have been even worse and while getting Mitchell back will help the offense, it may hurt the Jazz defense some too.
With all of this in mind, I think there is some value in taking the points here at the NBA odds.
The Nets’ recent losses have helped get us a better price here and while I’m not discounting the return of Mitchell, I think the top-rated sportsbooks are overvaluing his return a little and undervaluing the other Jazz injuries.
Brooklyn has the best road offense in the entire NBA and while being without Durant hurts that a good deal, I don’t think it will be enough to keep them from covering here.
NBA Pick: Nets +4.5 (-108) at Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports 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.