Ricky Dimon
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In addition to a double-header on TNT that includes the Los Angeles Lakers vs. the Denver Nuggets, the Utah Jazz are also a part of Thursday’s six-game NBA slate. The Jazz are one of the best teams in the NBA and they are certainly the hottest. Up next for them is the Atlanta Hawks, who are currently a playoff team in the Eastern Conference. So this showdown definitely deserves same game parlay treatment. Let’s take a look at the best such option for Utah-Atlanta, and be sure to check out our full preview of the game for picks on the side and total.
Jazz -9.5 alternate spread (+118)
Under 227.5 (-110)
Rudy Gobert Over 12.5 points (-122)
John Collins to score 20+ points (+130)
Parlay odds: +1851
Part of the value in same game parlays, of course, is that all of its components can be correlated if you so choose. That is only some of the plan here. A productive night on the offensive end of the floor for Rudy Gobert would obviously help Utah’s effort to win this one—and win it by double-digits. At the same time, plays that aren’t correlated help drive up the overall value of the parlay. That’s the case with a John Collins 20+ points performance, which the Jazz should have no trouble overcoming in terms of their overall chances.
Jazz -9.5 alternate spread (+118)
The Jazz have been the best team in the NBA over the past month, with an 11-1 record in their last 12 (including 10-2 ATS during this stretch). Now they have a favorable matchup with an Atlanta team that is playing the second game of a back-to-back situation. The Hawks lost on Wednesday night to a Dallas squad that had been on a six-game losing streak and they are still missing De’Andre Hunter. With Hunter sidelined, Trae Young often tries to do too much and that is when Young—and Atlanta as a whole—gets in trouble. It is worth noting that the Hawks are 0-3 SU and 1-2 ATS in the second legs of back-to-backs this season.
Under 227.5 (-110)
This number has climbed a few points since it opened, so the under has good value. The Hawks like to run and they not be as inclined to do that as much here—especially not against the Jazz. Utah is a team that generally turns games into half-court competitions. Gobert and company rank third in the NBA in scoring defense. Also, the Hawks have been playing to lower totals, scoring less, and playing better defense at home.
Rudy Gobert Over 12.5 points (-122)
Gobert is no slouch on the offensive end of the floor, either. He is scoring 13.3 points per game and there is no reason why he can’t reach his average and probably even exceed it against the Hawks. Both of these teams are stellar at defending the three-point line, so Utah may have to do most of its damage down low—where Atlanta is giving up the seventh-most points per game in the paint. Onyeka Okongwu probably won’t play on Thursday, which means Clint Capela will have to log a ton of minutes for the Hawks on the second night of a back-to-back. Good luck defending Gobert on tired legs!
John Collins to score 20+ points (+130)
I don’t see this as being a great spot for Young. Utah is second in the association in three-point percentage defense and fourth in opponents’ three-pointers made per game. I also don’t see Capela going off. The Jazz are also one of the best defensive rebounding teams and Capela enjoys a lot of his success with put-backs. Thus it may be up to Collins to carry the load, just as he did against the Mavericks on Wednesday (35 points, 12 rebound). He has scored at least 20 points in three of the last four outings.
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