If the playoffs started today, the Jazz (38-22 SU, 37-21 ATS) and Suns (39-24 SU, 36-26 ATS) would be playing each other in the first round. These two teams will meet tonight for the second time this season, with tonight’s venue taking place from US Airways Center in Phoenix. Utah dominated Phoenix 124-115 on January 25th as a seven-point home favorite and the combined 239 points easily hit the Over. The home victory by the Jazz was the fifth straight for the host team in this head-to-head series.

When breaking down this game, most gamblers look at the point guard matchup between Steve Nash and Deron Williams. In the January game, Nash scored 15 points and gave out 15 assists, while Williams tallied 18 points and 11 assists, which most would consider pretty even. The key to Utah’s win was rebounding (48-31), plus Phoenix was fortunate to stay in the game with a 17-of-30 (57%) performance from behind the arc.

Phoenix is the hot team of late going 13-3 SU and 14-2 Agains The Spread in their last 16, which includes a 6-1 SU and Against The Spread mark at home. The Suns will be playing on zero days rest tonight after crushing the Clippers 127-101 in L.A. on Wednesday. The club have a 6-9 Against The Spread record with no rest this season, however, only five of those 15 games were played at home and the Suns have gone 4-1 SU and 3-2 Against The Spread in that span.

Utah has always played better at home, but the Jazz are an impressive 16-11 Against The Spread outside of Salt Lake this season. Utah was on a roll with seven straight wins and covers away from home, but recently they have suffered bad road losses to the Kings (99-103) last Friday and Clippers (104-108) on Monday.

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Rick Riley – FiveStarPick.com