Jazz vs. Clippers Odds, Game 3 Preview, Picks, & Prediction
Jazz vs. Clippers Game 3 Odds
| Jazz Odds | +4.5 |
| Clippers Odds | -4.5 |
| Moneyline | +175/-195 |
| Over/Under | 223.5 |
| Where | STAPLES Center |
| TV | ABC |
| Odds accurate as of Friday at BetMGM | |
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The Utah Jazz have dominated the majority of each of their first two semifinals games with the Los Angeles Clippers, and now look to fulfill a quick sweep in Hollywood. With Donovan Mitchell back and in full gear, Utah has shown why it finished the 2020-’21 season with the best record in the NBA. They have now won six playoff games in a row, which uncoincidentally were the six postseason games Mitchell has played.
You are a braver soul than I if you’re going with LA -4.5. Frankly, I don’t even see any value whatsoever in the Clips’ -195 moneyline at online sportsbooks , either. Utah has demonstrated quite clearly that it has the superior team top to bottom, and can outplay LA on both ends of the floor. Clippers coach Ty Lue has also been outcoached (by a mile) by Jazz coach Quin Snyder.
When it comes to these NBA odds, will be going with Utah getting points in Game 3 and Game 4, and I feel pretty confident that I will hit on at least one of those wagers. The Jazz have averaged 122.8 points in their current six-game winning streak, during which they are allowing just 113.8 points.
Jazz vs. Clippers Game 3 Preview
Mitchell has been absolutely electric. He finished with 45 points and Game 1, and 37 in Game 2. He had 27 by halftime Thursday, on 11-of-16 shooting and 5-of-8 from long distance. Between Games 1 and 2, Mitchell had a 40-minute stretch where he scored 59 points. He’s a superstar.
‘Spida’ may not have been in the MVP discussion this season, but fans in Salt Lake City know full well he deserved to be. He’s a pick-and-roll maestro, a long-range assassin, and a penetrating force offensively. He combines strength, savviness, speed, and a smooth stroke. When he gets doubled (or tripled), he finds the open man. When Clippers defenders converge on him to shut down his drive, he kicks to an open shooter like Bojan Bogdanovic or Joe Ingles. When he’s given space to avoid penetration, he drills a deep trey off a quick release.
LA has no answers for Mitchell in the first unit. Even perennial All-NBA defenders Paul George and Kawhi Leonard have experienced fits trying to contain him. And then, when Spida sits, in comes Sixth Man of the Year Jordan Clarkson to light up the second unit. Clarkson went nuclear in Game 2, dropping 24 points in 27 minutes. He’s a bona fide spark plug, and he has blossomed in Utah.
As if the Jazz were not superior enough on offense, they also have the best defensive big on the planet in Rudy Gobert, who was just presented his third Defensive Player of the Year award before Thursday’s game. With a fresh infusion of confidence, Gobert looked as good as ever on the defensive side of the court in Game 2. He shut down the lane, gobbled up Demarcus Cousins to the point of utter consternation, and stepped into passing lanes in transition with the quickness of a man a foot-and-a-half shorter.
Also instrumental to Utah’s success, but perhaps a bit overlooked, has been Jazz small forward Royce O’Neal. The three-and-D vet has been incredible guarding Leonard, keeping the perennial postseason superstar from lighting up the floor. If and when the Jazz finish out this series on top, he deserves major kudos. So does Bogdanovic, who has played uncharacteristically great D on George in addition to contributing major inside-outside scoring.
Jazz vs. Clippers Game 3 Picks & Predictions
I love the Clippers, and Kawhi Leonard will always be one of my favorite players, but LA is just far too overmatched in this series. Utah has such a disciplined unit, with such a brilliant head coach, and such a dominating pace-and-space approach. The Jazz are a wonder to watch, never forcing anything offensively or cheating defensively. They play as a team at all points of the game, communicating perfectly and moving without the ball on one side, and closing out quickly and playing aggressive but intelligent D on the other.
Snyder’s squad exposes teams’ flaws, and forces opponents to play almost perfect basketball to compete. They fight through screens against low-IQ big men like Ivica Zubac, who somehow still does not know how to set a pick in the NBA (he was charged with multiple offensive fouls in Game 2). They eviscerate overaggressive centers like Demarcus Cousins, with Gobert’s length and quickness swallowing up the ball and forcing Boogie into a glass cage of emotions.
It sometimes seems like Leonard needs to carry LA to wins, but this Jazz squad is the absolute worst team to try to play hero ball against. If Paul George continues to struggle like he always has in the playoffs—disappearing during long stretches—I don’t see this series making it past five games. You can’t rely on isos, or shooting yourselves out of slumps, against such a dominant and well-disciplined complete team like Utah.
Leonard has led two different teams from pretender status to contender to NBA Champions. He won’t be able to do the same with this squad. It’s a different situation, with a vastly different group of role players and coaches. Utah might be the small-market miracle team this year, which would be good for the NBA and the sports world in general. One thing’s for sure—I’ll be watching every step of the way.
FINAL SCORE PREDICTION: Jazz 120-118
Image Credit: Imagn