The Utah Jazz (21-56) and Houston Rockets (47-29) will meet in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET from the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. The game will broadcast live on SCHN.
The Rockets are 16.5-point favorites over the Jazz on the spread (Rockets -16.5), with the over/under set at 233.5 total points. Houston is a -1800 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Utah is +1000 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Jazz vs. Rockets predictions and NBA picks for Friday, April 3.
Jazz vs Rockets Prediction, Picks
- Jazz vs Rockets picks: Jazz +16.5, Under 233.5
My Rockets vs. Jazz best bets are on Utah to cover the spread (+16.5) and the game to stay under 233.5 total points. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Jazz vs Rockets Odds
| Jazz Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+16.5 -105 | 233.5 -110o / -110u | +1000 |
| Rockets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-16.5 -115 | 233.5 -110o / -110u | -1800 |
Jazz vs Rockets NBA Preview
Utah has actually been hanging around in games lately.
The Jazz are surprisingly decent against the spread despite their tanking exploits, and they are 6-3 ATS when underdogs of more than 15 points this season (the fact that Utah has been 'dogs of 15+ points nine times this season makes me very sad).
The Rockets have been good as huge favorites this season, with a record of 3-1 when favored by more than 15 points — but the Rockets are also 17-29 ATS after a win and 6-10 following a win in which they failed to cover the spread (Tuesday vs. Bucks).
I expected all these tanking teams to get obliterated against the spread, given all the projected blowouts — but since March 1, the Jazz are 9-8 ATS.
The Jazz also shoot a high volume of three-pointers, albeit not well — but any team willing to shoot a high volume of threes can match up with the Rockets if you catch them on the right night.
Jazz vs Rockets Predictions, Betting Analysis
Jazz +16.5
If you want to play it safe, you can take the first half spread and avoid any possible shenanigans by the Jazz in the fourth quarter — but only if the outcome of the game is in question.
The Rockets are feeling better about themselves after some wins, which means this is the perfect time to fade them as huge favorites.
Under 233.5
The Rockets don’t take three-pointers, ever, and they defend at a very high level.
The Jazz don’t defend at all, but they also can’t shoot.
Utah is 16th in over-rate on the road, while the Rockets are the 3rd-best under team at home.
This could wind up being an ugly, tight game — and even if the Jazz let go of the rope, it’s more likely Houston continues to score a bunch of points from inside the arc, keeping the number low.
Jazz vs Rockets Best Bets
- Jazz +16.5 (-110)
- Under 233.5 (-110)
