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SPORTS BETTING
Basketball

Utah Jazz at Houston Rockets - NBA Picks and Best Bets

Esten McLaren
Sportsbook Wire

The Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets will meet up in the NBA Playoffs for a second consecutive year after the Rockets got past the Jazz four games to one in last season's Western Conference Semifinals.

The 2018-19 quarterfinals series will begin Sunday at 9:30 p.m. Eastern at Toyota Center.

Odds provided by Bet365; for a full-set of today's sports betting odds, access them at USA TODAY Sports.

Utah Jazz at Houston Rockets: By the Numbers

  • The team's split the season series with Utah taking the first two and Houston winning Games 3 and 4. Only one of the four games was decided by less than a double-digit margin.
  • The Jazz was 21-20 on the road this year but 23-16 against the spread. The Rockets were also 23-16 ATS and 31-10 straight up.

  • The Rockets averaged better than two points per game more than the Jazz in the regular season. Utah averaged two additional possessions per game.
  • Utah averaged 46.4 rebounds per game with the Rockets ranked 28th in the league at 42.1.

Utah Jazz at Houston Rockets: Key Injuries

The Rockets begin the postseason at full health. Jazz SG Kyle Korver and PG Raul Neto are at risk of missing Game 1 and potentially more of the first round due to knee and ankle injuries, respectively.

Veterans Derrick Favors, Ricky Rubio, Donovan Mitchell, and Rudy Gobert are all expected to be good to go after resting for the regular-season finale.

Utah Jazz at Houston Rockets: Best Bet

Moneyline: The Rockets are -250 to begin the postseason on home court. It's a fine number at which to back an ever-rare completely healthy team.

Against the spread: There are better odds at -110 for the Rockets to cover the spread of -6.5. The number will likely grow if Korver and/or Neto are ultimately ruled out.

Over/under: The spread of 214 was topped just once in the four meetings between the two this year. Take the UNDER rather comfortably at -110.

Follow Esten on Twitter @EstenMcLaren

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