Utah Jazz vs Philadelphia-76ers Picks and Predictions December 28th 2024

Utah Jazz vs Philadelphia-76ers December 28th 2024

In a non-conference matchup, the 76ers (-266) head to Salt Lake City to take on the Jazz (+220) at 9:30 ET. Philadelphia is favored by 7 points, and the over/under line is set at 222.

Philadelphia (11-17) is currently on a two-game winning streak and is 11th in the Eastern Conference. Utah (7-22) has lost two straight and is 14th in the West.

76ers vs. Jazz Key Information

The 76ers improved to 11-17 on the season after a 118-114 win over the Celtics on Wednesday. Philadelphia, who entered the game as +9.5 point underdogs, not only pulled off the upset but also covered the spread. The game’s total of 232 points exceeded the over/under line of 222.

Philadelphia led 30-25 after the 1st quarter and 66-58 at halftime. Boston responded by outscoring the 76ers 24-16 in the 3rd quarter, tying the game at 82 heading into the 4th. The 76ers then went on a decisive 12-0 run, turning an 85-84 deficit into a 96-85 lead, and held on for the win.

Tyrese Maxey’s 33 points and 12 assists led the 76ers to a 118-114 win over the Celtics, with 13 of his points coming in the 4th quarter. Caleb Martin also had a strong finish, scoring 12 of his 23 points in the final period, hitting 7 threes at a 77.8% rate.

Philadelphia made 17 threes as a team, shooting 42.5% from beyond the arc and 46.6% overall. Joel Embiid contributed 27 points, making 4 threes at 80% efficiency.

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Defensively, the 76ers had a strong 3rd quarter, giving up just 24 points, but struggled in the 2nd and 4th, allowing 33 and 32 points, respectively. Overall, they gave up 114 points on 45% shooting from the Celtics.

Philadelphia had trouble defending the three, as Boston hit 20 threes at a 40% clip. The 76ers sent the Celtics to the line 13 times, where they made 8 free throws. Defensively, they recorded 10 steals and 5 blocks.

The Jazz fell to 7-22 on the season after a 122-120 road loss to the Trail Blazers on Thursday. Utah entered the game as +3.5 point underdogs and managed to cover the spread. The game’s total points of 242 exceeded the over/under line of 227 by 15 points.

Utah went on a 16-0 run, turning a 57-55 deficit into a 71-57 lead. They led 88-81 going into the 4th quarter, but Portland outscored them 41-32 in the final period to take the win.

Lauri Markkanen led the Jazz with 25 points and 6 rebounds, shooting 57.1% from the field and hitting 4 threes at 50% in their 122-120 loss to the Trail Blazers. Collin Sexton added 19 points and 11 assists, despite shooting just 36.8%, while Svi Mykhailiuk contributed 18 points, knocking down 6 threes at 50% efficiency.

Utah connected on 21 threes, shooting 50% from beyond the arc and 47.7% overall. Markkanen scored 12 points in the 1st quarter and added 8 more in the 4th, while Johnny Juzang chipped in 12 of his 14 points in the final period.

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Defensively, the Jazz had a solid 1st and 3rd quarter but struggled in the 4th, giving up 41 points in their 122-120 loss to the Trail Blazers. Overall, Utah allowed Portland to shoot 50% from the field.

From beyond the arc, the Jazz allowed 15 threes on 39% shooting. They sent the Blazers to the line 22 times, where they hit 17 free throws. Utah finished with 35 defensive rebounds, gave up 9 offensive boards, and recorded 9 steals and 5 blocks.

When looking to get a point-spread pick down in this 76ers vs. Jazz game, our recommendation is to take the Jazz at +7. Despite our model showing the 76ers winning 138-137, we like Jazz as our point-spread pick.

Right now, the over/under line for the game is sitting at 222 and given that our model is projecting 275 points between the teams, we like the over.

Healthy for a Change, 76ers Optimistic Entering Meeting with Jazz

The Philadelphia 76ers, riding a wave of improved play, look to keep their momentum going when they visit the Utah Jazz on Saturday night in Salt Lake City.

76ers Finding Their Rhythm

Philadelphia is coming off an impressive 118-114 win over the Boston Celtics on Christmas Day, marking their eighth victory in the past 11 games. The performance has renewed the team’s confidence and optimism for the season.

“We got a high ceiling,” 76ers star Joel Embiid said after contributing 27 points and nine rebounds against Boston. “It’s all about us putting it together. I don’t think that was close to our best basketball, but we got a pretty good chance. So it’s all about looking for some luck, and staying healthy.”

The Sixers have been on a tear since a rough start to the season that included a 3-14 record through late November. They’ve now won four of their last five games, driven by a more consistent lineup.

The win against Boston was only the sixth game this season in which Embiid, Paul George, and Tyrese Maxey were all available. With those three healthy, Philadelphia feels confident about their chances to climb higher in the Eastern Conference standings, where they are just 1.5 games out of play-in contention.

Maxey, who tallied 33 points and 12 assists against the Celtics, emphasized the importance of the team finding cohesion after an early season marred by injuries.

“The biggest thing that we’ve really done is we’ve come together a lot more,” Maxey said. “I feel like we had a lot of new guys … and it’s difficult. You don’t know how you want to play. … I think we’re finally figuring that out.”

Caleb Martin also stepped up against Boston, hitting seven 3-pointers and finishing with 23 points.

Jazz Building for the Future

While the Jazz have struggled, winning only three of their last 13 games, they remain focused on progress in their rebuilding process. After consecutive wins last week for the first time all season, Utah finished a five-game road trip with tough losses in Cleveland and Portland, both competitive until the final moments.

Against Portland on Thursday night, Lauri Markkanen hit a clutch late 3-pointer to tie the game before Scoot Henderson’s buzzer-beater sealed the Blazers’ win.

Jazz coach Will Hardy continues to focus on the growth of his young team, particularly the contributions of rookies Cody Williams, Isaiah Collier, and Kyle Filipowski, who showed promise in Portland.

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“The most important thing for me is building those foundational habits of competitiveness every night,” Hardy said. “I’m happy with all their progress.”

Markkanen, who scored 25 points in the loss to the Blazers, remains a key figure for the Jazz as they develop their identity.

Outlook for Saturday’s Matchup

The 76ers enter the game as a team finding its stride after early adversity, while the Jazz aim to continue fostering development and resilience. Philadelphia’s core trio of Embiid, George, and Maxey will be a handful for Utah, while the Jazz will lean on Markkanen and their emerging talent to keep it close.