The Utah Jazz (14-26) and Dallas Mavericks (15-26) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. The game will broadcast live on KJZZ.
The Mavericks are 1-point favorites over the Jazz on the spread (Mavericks -1), with the over/under set at 236.5 total points. Dallas is a -115 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Utah is -105 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Jazz vs. Mavericks predictions and NBA picks for Thursday, January 15.
Jazz vs Mavericks Prediction
- Jazz vs Mavericks pick: Jazz Moneyline (-105)
My Jazz vs Mavericks best bet is on Utah moneyline, with the best price currently available at bet365. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Jazz vs Mavericks Odds
| Jazz Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+1 -110 | 236.5 -110o / -110u | -105 |
| Mavericks Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-1 -110 | 236.5 -110o / -110u | -115 |
Jazz vs Mavericks NBA Preview
On the Utah side, the Jazz have been doing some strange things with their injury reports. They essentially announced that Yusuf Nurkić would be active, then said he was coming off the bench, and then he didn’t play at all.
Lauri Markkanen was ruled out with an illness, maybe a real one, maybe not. Utah has been very careful with these guys, especially on back-to-backs, where they simply haven’t been playing.
On the Dallas side, the injury situation is just as messy, if not worse.
Anthony Davis is out for the Mavericks, and Cooper Flagg got hurt as well, tweaking his ankle. He returned briefly, sat on the bench, came back into the game for a short stint, and then didn’t appear at all in the second half. At best, he feels highly questionable (if not doubtful) for this one.
There are also other Dallas concerns. Daniel Gafford didn’t finish the last game. P.J. Washington has been out for a while and could easily sit the second leg of this back-to-back.
Brandon Williams has also been dealing with some issues. It wouldn’t be surprising if three, four, or even five Mavericks end up sitting.
From a broader perspective, the Jazz are actually not bad-bad. They hustle, they compete, and they have guys who can create offense. They’re a much more interesting watch than they’ve been over the past year.
Keyonte George is a huge part of that growth, and while Markkanen is the known name, George is really coming into his own.
It’s also unfortunate that Walker Kessler has only given them a handful of games this season, because he could’ve made this team even more annoying to deal with.
Without him, Utah can still be vulnerable inside. Any capable, physical big can hurt them, we just saw Nikola Vučević go 14-for-22 and have his way. That’s something to keep in mind if you’re looking at props on the opposing side.
Still, if you’re watching the Jazz, it’s worth it for George alone. His offensive bag is deep, he’s a real bucket, and Utah quietly has a handful of players worth monitoring, especially if you play fantasy or bet props.
Jazz vs Mavericks Prediction, Betting Analysis
This play is largely about attacking a potential injury situation, and it’s really a two-pronged angle on both sides.
Because both Markkanen and Nurkić sat in the previous game, the assumption here is that they’re likely to play against Dallas. That’s a big reason why I like Utah on the moneyline.
This could turn into a bit of a Wild West scenario, where both teams are almost competing to see who rests more players. And honestly, there’s an argument that neither team is exactly desperate to win.
Still, based on how the injury situations line up right now, the Jazz look like the side more likely to have bodies available.
Assuming Markkanen and Nurkić play, along with George and some of Utah’s other young pieces, the Jazz moneyline makes sense.
Pick: Jazz Moneyline (-105)
