Spurs minus 12 1/2 hosting Jazz
Because of Golden State grabbing all the publicity, San Antonio actually is a little bit under the radar screen. The Spurs have been fantastic, too, winning 20 of their first 25 games. This includes going 12-0 at home, 8-4 ATS. Going back to last season, San Antonio has won 21 games in a row at AT&T Center.
The Spurs have won by nine or more points in 17 of their 20 victories. They have won by at least 11 points in seven of their past eight wins. Given the situation, matchup and past history, the Spurs should easily win again today.
Utah is playing for the fifth time in seven days. The Jazz took Oklahoma City to overtime on Sunday, but ran out of gas in a 104-98 road defeat. Since losing center and defensive star Rudy Gobert, the Jazz have gone 2-4. Before playing the Thunder tough, the Jazz had dropped their previous road game, 114-106, to Sacramento.
San Antonio last played on Saturday when it buried the Hawks, 103-78. The Spurs are the top defensive team in the NBA holding foes to 88.2 points a game. That averages shrinks to 84.4 points during their last 13 games.
Utah ranks among the bottom 10 teams in scoring and free throw shooting. The Jazz are weak at point guard and their defense isn’t nearly as good minus Gobert. San Antonio has defeated the Jazz the past eight times in San Antonio. That certainly should be the case again this time in blowout fashion.