NBA Basketball Betting: Toronto Raptors at Utah Jazz

NBA action on Monday night features an intriguing non conference matchup between the Toronto Raptors and the Utah Jazz. Toronto was expected to go into the toilet after they sent Rudy Gay packing but instead they’ve played very good basketball and are currently in fourth place in the East. Utah was a basket case in the early part of the season but have recovered to play competent, if not impressive, basketball.

Of course there are few more difficult places to play in the NBA than Salt Lake City’s Energy Solutions Arena and the toughness of the Jazz’s home court venue isn’t the only issue the Raptors will have to deal with. The thin air in Salt Lake City’s high altitude is another issue that has always bedeviled visiting teams. Utah could be in something of a letdown mode, however, as they’re coming off a very emotional game on Friday night where legendary Jazz coach Jerry Sloan was honored. They looked very listless over the weekend in a road loss to the LA Clippers and that could continue here.

Toronto has been a great road team this season with a record of 18-7 ATS away from home. They are particularly strong up front and catch the Jazz with a tough injury issue was power forward Derrick Favors is expected to miss this contest with a hip injury. Toronto lost a tough game at Portland on Saturday night but should find the going easier against a Utah team that will be without their biggest frontcourt presence on offense and defense. Toronto has also cleaned up against opponents with losing records this season (17-6 SU/ATS). The Jazz have been playing harder since their miserable start to the season but without ‘all hands on deck’ we expect the Raptors to win and cover here. Utah is a team that we want to be playing on going down the stretch-most bettors gave up on them early but they’ve improved and continue to exert a good effort on most nights. The problem is that without a healthy lineup-and especially one that gives them such a profound tactical liability-they just don’t have the horses.

BET TORONTO RAPTORS -3′ OVER UTAH JAZZ