The San Antonio Spurs will be taking on the Utah Jazz Thursday in what is a must-win scenario for San Antonio. If they want to keep their playoff hopes alive, they have to come out with a win on Thursday night.
The Jazz aren’t in that scenario at all; actually quite the opposite. This game doesn’t mean much for them, as they are locked into the number six seed and are looking ahead to the playoffs.
San Antonio Must-Win
The Spurs beat the Rockets for their fifth win in seven games on Tuesday. They are trying to make the playoffs for the 23rd consecutive year.
Keldon Johnson had a big game for this team last time out with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Both were career highs for him.
“We’ve just got to go out there and do what we do,” Johnson said Tuesday. “Are we stressed? No. But I know we definitely want to make the playoffs. We are on the edge and ready to go.”
Gregg Popovich has had a lot of success in San Antonio, but this team doesn’t have the talent that he has had in the past. They also lost their big man, LaMarcus Aldridge, earlier this season due to injury.
DeMar DeRozan is the leader of this team. He averages just over 22 points a game and went for 23 last time out against the Rockets.
The last time the Spurs played the Jazz, many of the starters for Utah were resting. This might be the case again on Thursday since their playoff spot is clinched.
Jazz Looking Ahead
The Jazz tried to avoid facing the Rockets in the first round, with a sixth seed being the best scenario. They will go up against the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs.
Donovan Mitchell has been impressive for Utah ever since he entered the league. Coming out of Louisville, he has been one of the premier guards in the NBA.
He averages 24 points a game, dropping 35 their last time out against the Nuggets. He might be taking it easy in this one since they are set for a playoff run.
“We’re going to have to at least have the option and the potential to get to the bench in some crucial minutes, and that’s going to be important for us,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder said Tuesday.
As the lower seed, they will have a chance to beat the Nuggets in the first round. Rudy Gobert provides some solid defense for this team and will have the task of going up against Nikola Jokic.
Prediction
The Spurs are 7.5-point favorites in this one. That has everything to do with the scenario they are in.
In a regular game, the spread wouldn’t favor the Spurs so much. But since starters for the Jazz may get some rest, the Spurs will have a chance to cover.
I believe the Spurs will win and cover the spread. Take San Antonio -7.5.