Those looking for some exciting NBA action while waiting to ring in the New Year are likely to find it in this Western Conference showdown between the Phoenix Suns and Utah Jazz. Both teams sport winning records and will look to close out the short 2020 portion of the season schedule on a winning note. The NBA betting odds offer very slim favor to the home team in this toss-up game.
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Suns vs Jazz Game Info
Phoenix Suns (3-1, 1-1 Away) at Utah Jazz (2-1, 0-1 Home)
Date: Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020
Venue: Vivint Arena – Salt Lake City, UT
Start Time: 9 p.m. EST
TV: NBA TV
Suns vs Jazz Betting Odds
Odds courtesy of Bovada Sportsbook
Moneyline: PHX: (+145) | UTA: (-165)
Spread: PHX: +4 (-115) | UTA: -4 (-105)
Total: 219.5 – Over (-110) | Under (-110)
Suns vs Jazz NBA Betting Overview
Suns Outlook
If the first weeks of the new NBA betting season have told us anything about the Phoenix Suns, it would be that defense is their backbone. When it comes to the offensive end of the floor, one has to believe that newcomer Chris Paul will be a benefit for Phoenix’s production thanks to his passing abilities. Although streaky as a shooter, forward Jae Crowder should provide a boost from deep as well. He is fresh off a 21-point outing in a win over New Orleans that also saw center Deandre Ayton notch a 13-point, 12-rebound double-double. Devin Booker remains the Suns’ greatest scoring threat, but Phoenix has proven capable of winning even when their star has off nights shooting the rock.
Suns Injury Report
- Out: Jalen Smith (ankle)
- Out: Abdel Nader (concussion)
Jazz Outlook
Injuries derailed Jazz team that many NBA betting analysts believed was a dark horse championship contender last season. With their main corps now fully healthy, Utah has gotten their 2020-21 season off to a strong start. Donovan Mitchell has usurped the 20-point threshold in each of Utah’s first three games to start the season. Point guard Mike Conley has not only been scoring but getting after it on the glass as well. Rudy Gobert remains a nightly double-double machine, and Bojan Bogdanovic, who missed the postseason with a wrist injury, lit it up in a win over Oklahoma City earlier this week with 23 points, including 5-9 on three-pointers.
Jazz Injury Report
- Probable: Derrick Favors (knee)
Suns vs Jazz NBA Betting Trends
- Suns 2020-21 Betting Trends: 3-1 ATS; 0-4 to the Over
- Jazz 2020-21 Betting Trends: 1-2 ATS; 1-2 to the Over
Suns vs Jazz Statistics
- Phoenix is averaging 109.0 points per game this season (No. 23 in the NBA)
- Phoenix is surrendering 98.5 points per game on the season (No. 1 in the NBA)
- Utah is averaging 113.7 points per game this season (No. 10 in the NBA)
- Utah is surrendering 108.3 points per game this season (No. 7 in the NBA)
Suns vs Jazz Prop Bet
Mikal Bridges Over 4.5 Total Rebounds (+110 at Bovada Sportsbook)
A big part of the Suns’ success defensively to begin the season has been in their collective effort on the glass. Small forward Mikal Bridges has been a big part of that, pulling down exactly seven rebounds in three of Phoenix’s four games thus far. Bridges’ ability to get after it on the boards has correlated directly with the Suns’ ability to win games and cover NBA betting spreads. The one game in which he only secured three rebounds was also the team’s lone loss on the young season.
With Bridges coming into this New Year’s Eve game averaging 6.09 rebounds per game, +110 NBA betting value on the Over for 4.5 boards is too good to pass up. Bridges had a per-game average of 4.0 rebounds last year, indicating that 4.5 is not any kind of lofty number for the 24-year-old. In what should be a defensive game both ways, the Suns will need Bridges to be active on the glass in an effort to limit Utah’s scoring chances.
