Posted on
2/6/2008 7:35:43 PM
NBA Basketball Betting – Utah at Denver
By Charles Jay
WHO: Utah Jazz (31-18 SU, 26-23 ATS) at Denver Nuggets (29-18 SU, 24-21 ATS)
WHERE: Pepsi Center in Denver
WHEN: Wednesday, February 6 at 9 PM ET
BetUS NBA basketball betting odds: DENVER -2. Total 217
In the HEAD-to-HEAD NBA basketball betting trends:
* UTAH has won and covered six of the last eight meetings
* The last four meetings have gone OVER the total
* Four of the last five meetings in Denver have gone OVER the total
* UTAH has had the rebounding edge in seven of the last eight meetings
* UTAH has made more three-pointers in four of the last five meetings
Utah is the NBA's second leading shooting team, hitting 49.2% of its shots. From the line, they're 75%. The Jazz, with floor leader Deron Williams, have averaged 26.2 assists per game. Also:
* UTAH has covered eight of its last nine games
* UTAH has won its last nine games SU
* UTAH has played its last six games UNDER the total
* UTAH has won and covered four of its last five road games
* UTAH has played four of its last six road games UNDER the total
Denver is the NBA's leading rebounding team, with 45.1 per game. The Nuggets are shooting 45.2% from the field, and commit 15.3 turnovers per contest. Also:
* DEN has won five of its last seven games SU
* DEN has covered six of its last seven games
* DEN has covered seven of its last eight home games
* DEN has won its last five home games SU
* DEN has played four of its last five home games OVER the total
Should we buck an Utah team that has won nine straight games, covering eight of them? Would YOU? Is there the evidence to back it up?
Well, the Nuggets are healthy, relatively speaking. Carmelo Anthony is back in the lineup, and Marcus Camby, who has been bothered by a bruised knee, is expected to play tonight. Linas Kleiza, the 23-year-old Lithuanian, had 23 points off the bench on Saturday night, and he scored a career-high 41 points the last time these teams met, back on January 17.
But you had better believe Utah will be waiting to stop Kleiza when he gets in the game. the Jazz regularly hits 50% from the field, while Denver has struggled to get past 43% in many of its recent games, and Utah, which does not normally rely on the three-pointer as a part of its repertoire (just 4.4 per game) broke loose for FOURTEEN field goals from beyond the arc last time out in ripping New Orleans. That has been the effect of bringing aboard Kyle Korver, who had six three-pointers in that contest and has added that dimension to Utah's attack. He is hitting 52% of his threes on the road since he joined the team from Philadelphia.
We know Denver's won eight straight home games. But we're going to stick with the hotter team here, especially if we're getting points. We're going to "listen" to some Jazz, the two-point underdog in the BetUS NBA basketball betting odds.
JAY'S PLAY: UTAH
You’ll find the latest 2007-2008 NBA odds and lines in the best online sportsbook, BetUS.com. Betting on NBA player and game props makes every aspect of the game exciting. Join BetUS.com today to bet on the NBA and make online sports betting work for you!
(Charles Jay of TotalActionExtra.com is a freelance writer and handicapper who not only can make his shots from the top of the key, but also contributes with gusto to the BetUS Locker Room)