The whole Utah Jazz fan base is breathing a sigh of relief that there’s a basketball game today. Over the last 48 controversy filled hours that have engulfed Utah for conduct off a basketball court, it’s a welcome sight to see a game again. The Utah Jazz will be leaving the currently mired Vivint Arena as they take on the Phoenix Suns in Arizona. While the standings would have you believe that this game should be a cake walk for Utah, nothing could be further from the truth. The Phoenix Suns are arguable in the midst of their best stretch of basketball. They are 5-2 over their last seven games with wins over the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors. Meanwhile, Utah is in one of their most disappointing stretches of the season as they are 1-4 over their last 5 games. The disappoint comes from how many expected Utah to be bulldozing what outsiders see as an easy schedule. Over the last 5 games Utah has the 9th worst offensive rating, 10th best defensive rating, 7th worst defensive rebounding percentage, and 4th worst turnover percentage. They have been dreadful, and the eye test doesn’t lie either. The Jazz have carefully avoided opening up the playbook for Donovan at point guard as they have rightfully assumed they’d have healthy point guards returning at some point this season. Luckily, that some point is tonight as Ricky Rubio, Dante Exum, and Raul Neto are all a go for tonight’s game. It’s the first time all of them are healthy since January. Kudos to Donovan Mitchell who has been Utah’s only offense during this stretch, but is obviously seeing the signs of wearing down. Over the last 5 games, Donovan Mitchell has been averaging 30.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.8 steals, and 1.0 blocks. Unfortunately, one man does not a team make. The addition of Ricky Rubio to the starting lineup and Dante Exum to bench should allow Utah to have additional playmakers and allow Donovan and the rest of this team to reset to their normal roles, get a break, and do what they do best. Not to be outdone, Devin Booker has been on his own tear. He has averaged 29.6 points, 4.8 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 1.6 steals in this last 5 games on shooting splits of 49/38/100(!!!). Utah has the healthy bodies to throw at him and slow him down on the perimeter. From Bright Side of the Sun: Team leaders over the last seven: Devin Booker is averaging 27.7 points, 6.7 assists, 4.9 rebounds and 1.3 steals Kelly Oubre Jr. is second on the team in scoring at 19 per game, plus 6.7 rebounds and 1.7 steals Deandre Ayton rounds out the top three scorers with 17.7 points, 9 rebounds and 1.6 assists New point guard Tyler Johnson is delivering with 11.1 points and 4.9 assists against less than one turnover Mikal Bridges is scoring 8.9 points on 57 percent shooting, plus 3.6 rebounds and 2.1 steals This young Suns team seems to be figuring it out. It reminds me of the Kings at the end of last season. You could tell that they were playing hard and starting to figure out that they were extremely talented. Utah has got to go into this game ready to brawl because the Suns—coached by Jazz alum Igor Kokoskov—are becoming self-aware. Game Info When: Wednesday, March 11, 2019 8:00PM MT Where: Talking Stick Arena • Phoenix, AZ TV: AT&T Sports Net – Rocky Mountain, Fox Sports Oklahoma Radio: 97.5 FM | 1280 AM The Zone Injuries: Utah Jazz: Ricky Rubio — Hip — Probable Raul Neto — Hamstring — Probable Tony Bradley — Knee — OUT Phoenix Suns: T.J. Warren — Ankle — Day to Day The Return of Ricky Rubio (and point guards) Dante Exum made his rusty return against a VERY good Oklahoma City team on Monday and Rubio is going to get a much easier introduction back to the floor in Phoenix. Phoenix is still playing well, but the starting point guard for Phoenix is no Russell Westbrook. It’s Tyler Johnson. This will be a great game for Rubio and Exum to get their sea legs back underneath them, and get in the rhythm of the Jazz offense. We should expect Donovan Mitchell to still have to do some heavy lifting, but this game will definitely be a work in progress. The hope will be that by the end of the game, Utah will be back in rhythm. Expect other players adjusting back to their non playmaking roles (Korver, O’Neale, Crowder) to go through similar adjustments as they are not needed to control the ball as long on offense or create for themselves. Rudy Gobert The Stifle Tower has not been as Stifling lately. Utah’s allowing the 8th most amount of points in the paint over their last 5 games which is not typical of a Rudy Gobert anchored defensive unit. Part of that could be bigger defenders like Joe Ingles and Korver not being able to stay in front of more agile guards as they filled in for Utah’s hurt point guard corps. With point guards back and healthy, that should make life easier for Utah’s big men. The big bodied DeAndre Ayton should have a rough game against the more seasoned Rudy Gobert and with all of Utah’s depth back, Utah should be able to make life difficult for Phoenix’s shooters on the perimeter. It’d be good to see the return of the Stifle Tower tonight in Arizona.<doc-sep>Utah Jazz guard Kyle Korver (26) drives against Phoenix Suns' Richaun Holmes during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 13, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York) Phoenix • It looked like it was happening again. After costly losses to New Orleans and Memphis the last week, the Jazz could ill afford to drop a game to the Western Conference-worst Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night. And yet, there they were, struggling to take command at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Unlike in those games, though, adversity didn’t prove too much this time. Trailing with 3 1/2 minutes gone minutes in the second quarter? They closed it on a 22-8 run. All of a 14-point third-quarter lead squandered before the period was over? They responded with a 10-2 run to take command once more. It wasn’t pretty, and it didn’t matter — all of the aforementioned added up to Utah picking up a suddenly crucial 114-97 victory. Coming in having lost two in a row and three of four to fall to eighth place in the Western Conference playoff race, it didn’t really matter how they arrived at the win so much as that they simply got it. “It was really important for us to go out there and make a statement,” said Donovan Mitchell. “They obviously went on their run, but we played good defense, we moved the ball tremendously on offense, and if we keep playing that way, we should be good.” Donovan Mitchell, on what sparked the key 22-8 and 10-2 runs: "Defensively, we locked in. We got stops and ran in transition. … It’s one thing to go against a team’s halfcourt set, but when we get out and push the pace, then it really allows us to … keep being in attack mode." pic.twitter.com/oiPQ5G4Hew — Eric Walden (@tribjazz) March 14, 2019 Mitchell led a balanced scoring effort with 26 points, while Rudy Gobert had a dominant performance down low, contributing 18 points and 20 rebounds. Derrick Favors also had a big all-around effort, totaling 18 points, seven rebounds and a career-high-tying seven assists. They had to earn every bit of it. For while the Suns came in with only 16 wins on the season, they were also playing their best basketball of the season, having won five of seven, including a victory over West-leading Golden State. And so, Utah found itself down 35-31 with 7:45 left in the second quarter. Then the defense finally kicked into high gear. All those drives into the lane? Shut down. Those previously open 3-point looks? Contested and clanking off the rim. Phoenix wound up shooting 6 for 21 in the period, and the Jazz took a 10-point advantage into the break. The lead reached 14 in the third, but the momentum wouldn’t last. Phoenix wound up shooting 11 for 19 over the 12-minute span, and rallied all the way back to tie the game at 75-all. Rather than sulk, though, the Jazz simply responded. Joe Ingles drained a 3 before the quarter’s end. Favors began the fourth with an alley-oop from Ingles. Jae Crowder hit a jumper. And then Ingles nailed another trey for a 10-2 run to reassert control. “In both those segments, we didn’t give ’em anything easy,” said coach Quin Snyder. “And we were able to attack and convert. I thought we were just more connected on offense.” The Suns never seriously threatened again, and Utah pulled away in the game’s final minutes. Ingles wound up contributing 15 points and six assists. Crowder had 12 points off the bench. The Jazz also dominated on the boards, winning the rebounding battle 52-35, which limited Phoenix to just two second-chance points. Devin Booker led the Suns with 27 points and six assists. But No. 1 overall draft pick DeAndre Ayton struggled against Gobert and Favors, making only 1 of 9 shots for two points and nine rebounds. “The way Rudy and Fav responded to the last couple games; our bigs have been solid all year long, and they raised their level tonight,” said Snyder. “The points in the paint, their finishing; I thought they did an excellent job defensively, coming over and impacting shots without fouling. So, a good night for those guys.” Quin Snyder, on the impact of Rudy and Fav: "Our bigs have been solid all year long, and they raised their level tonight — the points in the paint, their finishing; I thought they did an excellent job defensively, coming over and impacting shots without fouling." pic.twitter.com/NnX7Bbm1Ca — Eric Walden (@tribjazz) March 14, 2019 The win was the Jazz’s fifth straight against the Suns. More importantly, it improved the team to 38-29 on the season, and pushed Utah a half-game ahead of the idle Clippers into seventh place in the Western Conference playoff race. Asked if there was an added sense of urgency after having slipped down the standings, Gobert grinned. “I think a little bit. I mean, I hope! We thought were doing well, but all of a sudden we were eighth,” he said. “We don’t want to think about that, but sometimes it’s good to see that. It can go very fast, if we lose our edge or we stop doing what we’ve been doing.” The Jazz now move on to the second half of a back-to-back, as they host the Minnesota Timberwolves on Thursday at Vivint Smart Home Arena.<doc-sep>On today’s episode of Locked On Suns, we recapped the Suns’ 114-97 loss to the Utah Jazz live from Talking Stick Resort Arena. Devin Booker chipped in 27 points, 4 rebounds and 6 assists on 9-for-20 shooting, but Phoenix’s first ever No. 1 overall pick was flummoxed by Rudy Gobert. Deandre Ayton ended his night with career-lows in points and field goal percentage as Richuan Holmes outplayed him. Also, what should we make of Josh Jackson? Some games he’s on, some games he’s not. Another example popped up for Jackson tonight, and is it possible his role is reduced once T.J. Warren returns? We break down all the hot topics as the Suns now fall to 16-53 on the season. Follow on Twitter: @LockedOnPHXSuns, @esidery, @BrendonKleen14<doc-sep>
Jazz vs. Suns Spread Prediction The Suns are coming off the best upset of the NBA season, upending the Warriors 115-111 in Oakland as a 17-point underdog Sunday night. Is Phoenix a good bet to cover as a sizable home underdog tonight against the Utah Jazz as well? Tip-off is set for 10:00 p.m. ET. Game Snapshot 557 Utah Jazz at 558 Phoenix Suns 10:00 p.m. ET, Wednesday, March 13, 2019 Talking Stick Resort Arena, Phoenix, Arizona Our NBA Live Odds page pulls spreads and totals from multiple different online sportsbooks so you can compare betting odds to ensure you’re getting the best line. Public Betting Trends According to oddsmakers from online sportsbook BetNow.eu, the Suns are 8-point favorites to beat the Jazz. The total, meanwhile, sits at 221.5 points and as of this writing, 68% of the public betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Jazz to cover the point spread. Utah Jazz Fantasy Spin Ricky Rubio (left hip tightness) is probable for Wednesday's game vs. the Suns. He's expected back after a two-game absence and was able to go through a limited practice over the weekend. Rubio's first three games in March were underwhelming, but he should be picked back up if he was dropped. If you were looking at or using Royce O'Neale as a streamer, you should probably look for a better option on the wire. Phoenix Suns Fantasy Spin T.J. Warren (ankle) will remain on the sidelines for Wednesday's game against the Jazz. Head coach Igor Kokoskov said he hasn't discussed shutting down Warren, but with just 13 games left on the schedule after Wednesday's game and Warren still not practicing, things aren't looking great here. Kelly Oubre Jr., Mikal Bridges and Josh Jackson will continue to pick up the slack in his absence, with Dragan Bender starting at the four-spot. NBA Betting Trends Utah The Jazz are 16-4-1 against the spread in their last 21 games following a loss. Phoenix The Suns are 8-3 against the number in their last 11 games coming off a win. Prediction While the Suns are coming off a massive upset, the Jazz fell to the Thunder as a 3.5-point home favorite on Monday night as they failed to crack 90 points offensively. The suns are 5-0 against the spread in their last five games overall and 5-1 against the number in their last six home games, while the Jazz failed to cover in four of their previous five games. While I don’t see the 16-52 Suns pulling off back-to-back big upsets, I do like this improved squad to keep the game relatively close. Wednesday NBA Prediction: Phoenix Suns +8