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Thursday's Free Play Here
4/8/04 - 8:35 PM EST
NBA - Utah Jazz (+9.5) over Dallas Mavericks
The fight for the eighth spot in the Western Conference has been a tough one, with several teams that look like they will be in the mix until the very end. The Jazz are right in the midst of this battle with a 41-37 record and a two game winning streak on their hands. They head into Dallas on Thursday night with four games remaining and every one being a "must-win" at this point. Utah defeated the Grizzlies in Salt Lake City on Monday by a score of 92-81 in a game which Gordan Giricek dropped 25.
The Jazz have taken 2 of 3 against the Mavericks this season, most recently 91-88 on January 28th. Dallas is the highest scoring team in the NBA, but Utah's defense has held them in check (the Mavs averaged only 91 ppg in the 2 defeats). Andrei Kirilenko will be a key figure in this game. The Russian-born forward is averaging 8.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game, which is third in the NBA. His 1.93 steals per game rank fourth in the league. His most recent performance on Monday shows why the Jazz defense has been so lethal to opponents all season. Against Memphis, Kirilenko had 17 points, 11 rebounds, and a blocked shot.
Utah has to contain Dirk Nowitzki in order to stay in this one. They have been able to stifle this Dallas offense before, a task that most other teams in the league have failed miserably at.
If the Mavericks begin to run the game on the offensive end, they won't run too far to cover this spread. The Jazz are too stingy with the ball and should stay in this game and make it interesting.
We like the road dog in this one. Take Utah getting the points.
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NBA - Utah Jazz (+9.5) over Dallas Mavericks
The fight for the eighth spot in the Western Conference has been a tough one, with several teams that look like they will be in the mix until the very end. The Jazz are right in the midst of this battle with a 41-37 record and a two game winning streak on their hands. They head into Dallas on Thursday night with four games remaining and every one being a "must-win" at this point. Utah defeated the Grizzlies in Salt Lake City on Monday by a score of 92-81 in a game which Gordan Giricek dropped 25.
The Jazz have taken 2 of 3 against the Mavericks this season, most recently 91-88 on January 28th. Dallas is the highest scoring team in the NBA, but Utah's defense has held them in check (the Mavs averaged only 91 ppg in the 2 defeats). Andrei Kirilenko will be a key figure in this game. The Russian-born forward is averaging 8.1 rebounds and 2.8 blocks per game, which is third in the NBA. His 1.93 steals per game rank fourth in the league. His most recent performance on Monday shows why the Jazz defense has been so lethal to opponents all season. Against Memphis, Kirilenko had 17 points, 11 rebounds, and a blocked shot.
Utah has to contain Dirk Nowitzki in order to stay in this one. They have been able to stifle this Dallas offense before, a task that most other teams in the league have failed miserably at.
If the Mavericks begin to run the game on the offensive end, they won't run too far to cover this spread. The Jazz are too stingy with the ball and should stay in this game and make it interesting.
We like the road dog in this one. Take Utah getting the points.
CLICK HERE TO GET THURSDAY'S MLB PLAYS