Utah Jazz vs San Antonio Spurs Picks and Predictions October 31st 2024

Jazz Look to Break Their Losing Streak Against Spurs in Salt Lake City Showdown

The Utah Jazz, still searching for their first win of the NBA season, are ready to take on the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday night. Both teams have had a rough start to the season, with the Spurs coming in with a 1-3 record and the Jazz at 0-4. For the Spurs, this matchup in Salt Lake City is the second night of a back-to-back after facing the Thunder the evening before, adding an extra challenge to their road trip.

Jazz’s Tough Start Continues

The Jazz are currently the only winless team in the NBA after Detroit snagged their first win over Philadelphia on Wednesday, making Utah even hungrier for a victory. It’s been a tough start, with injuries and some cold shooting nights adding to their struggles. Second-year guard Keyonte George, one of the Jazz’s promising young talents, has been in a shooting slump, hitting just 26.2% from the field and 22.6% from beyond the arc. Even though the shots aren’t falling, George has found other ways to contribute, dishing out 11 assists in their recent 113-96 loss to the Sacramento Kings.

Jazz head coach Will Hardy has been working with George on staying positive and not letting missed shots or mistakes get him down. Hardy’s approach has helped George stay focused on impacting the game in other ways, with George saying, “Turnovers don’t really mess with me. Missed shots don’t really mess with me as much.” It’s a sign that George is learning to stay resilient, even as the team works through early season challenges.

Injuries Impacting Jazz Lineup Depth

Injuries have been a constant thorn in the Jazz’s side. Recently, they lost Taylor Hendricks, a promising second-year forward, to a season-ending leg injury, which dealt a blow to their frontcourt depth. Adding to that, Lauri Markkanen, Utah’s star player, had to leave the game against Sacramento due to lower back spasms and is listed as day-to-day. With these setbacks, rookies Cody Williams and Kyle Filipowski have been called up to play bigger roles. Against Sacramento, Filipowski posted a solid performance with 12 points and eight rebounds, while Williams knocked down three three-pointers, showing that Utah’s young bench is capable of stepping up when needed.

Spurs Look to Rebound After Loss to Thunder

The Spurs have had their own set of challenges, arriving in Salt Lake City fresh off a 105-93 loss to the Thunder. San Antonio struggled to find a rhythm, shooting only 41.2% from the field and putting up a mere 44 points in the first half. Victor Wembanyama, the NBA’s 2024 Rookie of the Year, had an uncharacteristically quiet game with just six points on 1-of-5 shooting and four turnovers. Spurs’ coach Gregg Popovich didn’t mince words, noting the skill gap between his team and the undefeated Thunder, particularly calling out the 27 points they handed over to Oklahoma City due to turnovers.

Popovich has been all about discipline, reminding his team it’s a “48-minute game” and that consistency is the key to staying competitive. Despite the rough start, he pointed out that the Spurs managed to match the Thunder’s pace in the second half, a positive sign that they’re learning and improving even from tough losses.

Young Players Stepping Up

In the Jazz camp, the injuries have meant younger players are taking on bigger roles sooner than expected. Rookies like Williams and Filipowski, who were initially expected to ease into the rotation, are now putting in meaningful minutes. Filipowski has shown potential on the boards and in scoring, while Williams’ shooting from beyond the arc has added a new dimension to Utah’s offense. This influx of young energy, while challenging, is giving the Jazz an opportunity to develop future stars.

For the Spurs, their young squad is led by Wembanyama, who’s aiming to rebound from his recent rough outing. The Rookie of the Year is still adjusting, and his ability to bounce back will be crucial in establishing a more consistent offensive threat for the Spurs. Meanwhile, veterans like Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell are stepping in to support Wembanyama and help reduce the team’s turnovers, which have been costly in close games.

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What to Watch for in Jazz vs. Spurs

The Jazz will be leaning on home-court advantage to secure their first win. Defense will be key, especially against Wembanyama, who can be a serious game-changer when he’s in form. With Markkanen’s availability uncertain, Utah’s young talent will likely be called on once again to handle the scoring load, minimize turnovers, and improve their shooting percentages.

On the other side, the Spurs will focus on ball control and creating scoring opportunities that don’t rely on turnovers to stay competitive. Popovich’s strategy is all about cutting down mistakes and maintaining energy, and if the Spurs can do that, they’ll have a good chance to stay in the game. After all, these early season matchups are about building momentum and learning how to close out games.

Looking Ahead

Both teams are hungry to turn things around, with the Jazz determined to grab their first win and the Spurs looking to recover from a tough loss. Utah’s young core and San Antonio’s mix of fresh faces and Popovich’s experience make this matchup one to watch. If the Jazz can capitalize on their home-court energy and find their shooting groove, they’re well-positioned to snap their losing streak. Meanwhile, the Spurs, though feeling the effects of back-to-back road games, will look to Wembanyama and a disciplined defense to secure a win in Salt Lake City.

This game may just be an early-season test, but it offers a glimpse into each team’s potential and the adjustments they’ll need to stay competitive in the weeks ahead.

Jazz vs Spurs October 31st 2024

At 9:00 ET, the winless Jazz (-130) will host the Spurs (+109) in a Western Conference matchup. Utah is favored by 2 points, and the over/under line is 225.5. You can watch the game on KJZZ.

This game will be played at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.

Spurs vs. Jazz Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: San Antonio Spurs at Utah Jazz
• Where: Salt Lake City at Delta Center
• Date: Thursday, October 31st
• Betting Odds UTA -2, SA +109 | UTA -130 O/U 225.5

The Spurs Can Win If…

San Antonio dropped to 1-3 on the season after a 105-93 road loss to the Thunder on Wednesday. The Spurs were +12.5 point underdogs and managed to cover the spread, but the combined score of 198 points fell well short of the 220.5-point O/U line.

After a 13-0 run by the Thunder broke a 10-10 tie, the Spurs found themselves playing catch-up. San Antonio was outscored 33-25 in the 2nd quarter and entered the 4th down 82-70. They managed to keep pace in the final quarter, with both teams scoring 23 points.

In their loss to the Thunder, the Spurs managed just 93 points, shooting 41.2% from the field and 33.3% from three-point range, hitting 12 threes. Harrison Barnes led the way with 18 points, scoring 10 in the 3rd quarter.

Jeremy Sochan added 17 points, while Malaki Branham contributed 15, with 10 of his points coming in the 4th quarter. Chris Paul also had a strong 2nd half, scoring 8 of his 14 points in the 2nd quarter and adding 6 more in the 3rd.

Defensively, the Spurs struggled in the 2nd quarter, giving up 33 points, but they tightened up in the 3rd and 4th, allowing just 23 points in each. Overall, they allowed 105 points on 46% shooting from the field.

San Antonio had trouble defending the three, as the Thunder hit 17 threes at a 41% clip. The Spurs sent Oklahoma City to the line just 8 times, where they made 6 free throws. The Spurs finished with 39 defensive rebounds, allowing 5 offensive boards, and added 6 steals and 6 blocks.

• Although San Antonio has a straight up record of 4-6 in their last ten road games, they have not held up as well vs the spread going 7-3. The team averaged 108 points per game in these games.
• Looking back on the team’s last ten games as the underdog, the Spurs have a straight up record of 3-7. Their record vs the spread in these games was 6-4.
• Over their last three games, the Spurs have an over/under record of 0-3 and are 2-1 vs. the spread.

The Jazz Can Win If…

The Jazz fell to 0-4 on the season after a 113-96 loss to the Kings on Tuesday. Utah, who were +6.5 point underdogs, failed to cover the spread at home. The total score of 209 points was well below the 234.5-point line.

A 15-0 run by the Kings broke the game open early, and though the Jazz won the 2nd and 4th quarters, they were outscored 29-14 in the 3rd, putting them in a deep hole heading into the final period.

In their 105-93 loss to the Thunder, the Spurs shot just 41.2% from the field. They connected on 12 threes, shooting 33.3% from beyond the arc.

Harrison Barnes led the Spurs with 18 points, scoring 10 in the 3rd quarter. Malaki Branham also added 10 points in the 4th, finishing with 15 overall.

Defensively, the Jazz struggled early, giving up 34 points in the 1st quarter, but they tightened up in the 4th, allowing just 23 points. Overall, they allowed 113 points on 52% shooting from the Kings.

Utah did well in limiting Sacramento’s three-point shooting, holding them to 8 made threes on 25% shooting. The Jazz also sent the Kings to the line 14 times, where they made 9 free throws. Utah recorded 7 steals and 4 blocks.

• Utah has a 1-2 record in their last three home games. In this stretch, they averaged 109 points per game while allowing 114. The team also performed well vs the spread at 3-0.
• In their last three games as the betting favorite, the Jazz have a strong straight up record of 2-1. In addition, their ATS record was 2-1 in these scenarios.
• In their last three games, the Jazz have an over/under record of 1-2 and are 1-2 vs. the spread.

The Lean

We’re putting our money on the Jazz to win, and have the projected score sitting at 143-140. We also like them to cover the spread, so our recommendation is to bet on the Jazz at -2.

Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 225.5 and given that our model is projecting 283 points between the teams, we like the over.