The Utah Jazz are riding a five-game winning streak and they now head to the Wells Fargo Center for a meeting with the Philadelphia 76ers. This matchup will feature two of the best big men in the league going at it, as Rudy Gobert and Joel Embiid will battle in the paint.
Will Philadelphia find a way to deal this Utah team a loss? Find out with our NBA picks and predictions for Jazz vs. 76ers.
Jazz vs 76ers odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
The Sixers were 3-point underdogs at open and are now getting either 3 or 3.5 across all books. A majority of bettors are rolling with the Jazz, so it’s possible it ends up moving to at least 3.5 everywhere. The total, meanwhile, opened at 216.5 and is now as high as 217.5.
Use the live odds widget above to track any future line movements right until tip-off and be sure to check out the full NBA odds before betting to ensure you get the best number.
Jazz vs 76ers predictions
Predictions made on 12/9/2021 at 11:00 a.m. ET.
Click on each prediction to jump to the full analysis.
If you're signing up for a new sportsbook for the 2021-22 NBA season, here are two of the best welcome bonuses available:
USA: Caesars Greetings! From now through 1/19/2022, any user that opts in to Caesars’ promotion and places $100 worth of settled bets (by 1/19) will receive a gift card for a FREE NBA Jersey. Opt in Now
Canada: Get a 100%-matched sign-up bonus (up to $400) at BetVictor. Claim Now
Jazz vs 76ers game info
• Location: Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia, PA
• Date: Thursday, December 9, 2021
• Tip-off: 7:00 p.m. ET
• TV: NBCSP, ATTSN-RM
Jazz vs 76ers betting preview
Injuries
Jazz: Hassan Whiteside C (Questionable), Udoka Azubuike C (Out).
76ers: Ben Simmons F (Out).
Find our latest NBA injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Sixers are 4-1-1 against the spread in their last six games as underdogs. Find more NBA betting trends for Jazz vs. 76ers.
Jazz vs 76ers picks and predictions
Our predictions are compiled from the analysis of the spread and total and are indications of where we are leaning for this game.
Our best bet is the play that we like the most for this game, which we would actually put some of our bankroll behind.
Spread analysis
The Jazz are rolling entering this meeting with the Sixers, as they have won each of their last five games and have to be feeling good off a 32-point win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Sixers, however, have also played well coming into this one, with Philadelphia earning its third straight win with a 110-106 road victory over the Charlotte Hornets last night. The Sixers have also won four of their last five games, and they look like they have a renewed energy with Joel Embiid back in the lineup.
Over the last three games, Embiid is averaging 34.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game. He’s really in a groove in the offensive end, and it wouldn’t be too surprising if he finds a way to stay productive against an elite Jazz defense. Last season, Embiid had 40 points, 19 rebounds, three assists, and two blocks in an overtime win over Utah. That was the Sixers’ only meeting with the Jazz, and it’s just very clear that the Philadelphia superstar does not back down from this matchup with Gobert.
Utah also has the option of throwing either Tyrese Maxey or Matisse Thybulle on Donovan Mitchell in this game. Neither player can completely shut Utah’s All-Star down, but the two of them can make his life difficult. That should be enough in a game in which the Sixers will already have a huge home-court advantage. Also, the Jazz haven’t won a game in Philadelphia since November 7, 2016. The Sixers are 4-0 both straight up and against the spread against the Jazz when playing at home since then.
Prediction: 76ers +3.5 (-110)
Over/Under analysis
The Jazz are currently eighth in the league in defensive rating, and they’re also 18th in the NBA in pace this year. Meanwhile, the Sixers have underperformed a bit defensively, but they are last in the entire league in pace. With that in mind, this game shouldn’t have as many possessions as a typical NBA game, and it should feature two teams that are locked in on the defensive end.
In the six games since Embiid returned to the lineup for the Sixers, Philadelphia is sixth in the league in defensive rating. That means the Sixers are turning things around with their defensive anchor back in the mix, and that bodes well for a meeting with an explosive Jazz offense. The Under is also 7-5 in the 12 games Philadelphia has played as a home underdog over the last three seasons.
Prediction: Under 217.5 (-110)
Best bet
Since the start of the 2019-20 season, Philadelphia is 12-2 against the spread when playing at home against teams that outscore opponents by an average of at least 6.0 points per game. The average score in those games have the Sixers winning by 8.0 points per game, showing just how dominant Philadelphia is at home against good competition. Utah is also just 4-7 against the spread when playing on the second night of a road back-to-back over the last three years. So, while the Jazz were dominant against the Timberwolves last game, they might be a bit flat in this one.
It’s also worth noting that the Sixers are 8-3-1 against the spread as home underdogs over the last three seasons. They’re also 17-10 straight-up when playing the second game of a back-to-back in that span, showing that they might be more prepared for the quick turnaround than their opponents here.
Pick: 76ers +3.5 (-110)
Did you know that if you parlayed today’s NBA Jazz vs. 76ers predictions and picks in a single-game parlay, you could win $26.45 on a $10 bet?
Use our NBA parlay calculator to create your own parlays and see their potential payouts.
