Phoenix Suns at Utah Jazz Betting Preview

Opening Line: Suns +7 / Jazz -7 O/U 220.5

Time: 9 PM EST Monday January 25, 2010 on FOX ROCKY

Tonight the streaking Utah Jazz host the Phoenix Suns, who are not playing the best basketball as of late. Utah has won 2 in a row, is 7-3 in their last 10 games, and trail the Denver Nuggets by 4 games in the Northwest Division. Even though Phoenix won their last game they are only 4-6 in their last 10 games and they currently trail the L.A. Lakers by 7.5 games in the Pacific Division.

This season the Jazz are 17-6 at home and 26-16-1 ATS and the Suns are 9-14 on the road and 22-22-1 ATS.

In their last games the Jazz crushed the New Jersey Nets, who doesn't, 116-83 on Saturday and the Suns beat the Golden State Warriors 112-103 also on Saturday.

The Jazz have to play good D in this game against a Phoenix Team that is the highest scoring team in the league almost averaging 110 ppg.

Phoenix is a very weak defensive team ranking 2nd to last in the league in points allowed (107.4 ppg) and tonight they will be facing a hot-shooting Jazz squad that is shooting 52.3% from the field in their last 7 games. Utah has won 5 straight at home averaging112 ppg on 54.3% shooting.

Jazz PG Deron Williams has to task of trying to slow down the fast paced Suns and he has to try to contain Suns' PG Steve Nash (18.4 ppg 11 assists per game). If he can do that the Jazz will be in great shape, as they are a much better half court team.

Nash also has to play some D on Williams, who is averaging 20.6 ppg and 12.8 assists per game while posting 5 straight double-doubles versus Phoenix.

Utah C Mehmet Okur (12.6 ppg 6.8 rpg) has killed Phoenix lately averaging 21.3 ppg and 12.7 rpg in his last 7 games against the Suns.

Phoenix has to hit the boards tonight and not allow the Jazz to have 2nd chance opportunities. They have to body up against Carlos Boozer (10.6 rpg) and Okur, but that will not be easy since the Suns do not have a lot of size inside and this season have a rebounding differential of only -2.0 rpg.

The Jazz have won 5 straight at home and the Suns, who are very tough to beat at home, are 5 games under .500 away from the Valley of the Desert.

Phoenix is 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games, 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games, and 6-13-1 ATS in their last 20 games as an underdog of 5.0-10.5. Utah is 7-0-2 ATS in their last 9 games, 12-3-1 ATS in their last 16 home games, and 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games as a favorite of 5.0-10.5.

Our Selection : The Suns have lost 5 of their last seven with wins against lowly New Jersey and Golden State. They have lost their last 4 on the road straight up and only covered 1 of the 4. Three of the four losses were by more than the listed spread in this game. Take the Jazz -7