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Utah Jazz vs Portland Trail Blazers picks and predictions January 5th 2026
The Utah Jazz (12-24) head to the Portland Trail Blazers (14-22) on Monday, January 5th at the Moda Center. Tipoff is set for 10:00 PM ET in a Western Conference matchup with limited standings impact—but solid betting potential. Both teams are under .500, and player availability could swing the market, so be sure to monitor the Utah Jazz injury report and Portland Trail Blazers injury report.
Oddsmakers have Portland as a -6.0 home favorite (-228 ML), while the Jazz are +190 to win outright. The total is a lofty 245.5, signaling pace, poor defense, or both. With Utah on a short road swing and the Blazers wrapping up a homestand, it’s a situational spot worth dissecting.
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Utah Jazz vs Portland Trail Blazers Odds
These are the current betting lines. Always check for line movement on our latest NBA odds page.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Utah Jazz | +190 | +6.0 (-111) | O 245.5 (-111) |
| Portland Trail Blazers | -228 | -6.0 (-111) | U 245.5 (-111) |
Utah Jazz Betting Form
Utah’s been inconsistent all season, but their offensive pace has remained high. They’re among the top 10 in pace over their last 10 games, emphasizing early-shot-clock threes and downhill drives. Unfortunately, they’re also bottom-five in defensive rating, giving up both rim looks and wide-open threes.
Markkanen leads the charge, but ball security is an issue, and their late-game offense stalls in tight contests. The Jazz have underperformed against the spread as road underdogs, a trend worth factoring in. Given their fast tempo and defensive lapses, Utah is a classic high-variance team—great for live betting, but risky pre-flop.
Check the Utah Jazz injury report before placing any early bets. For full trend insights, visit the Utah Jazz stats and results.
Portland Trail Blazers Betting Form
The Blazers are far from elite, but they’re scrappy at home. Portland has covered four of its last six at Moda Center, benefiting from improved rebounding and fewer turnovers. Jerami Grant continues to be their late-clock shot-maker, while Simons and Brogdon handle most of the creation.
Defensively, they’re better than Utah but still vulnerable against floor-spacing bigs and aggressive ball movement. What’s notable is their ability to limit second-chance points lately—a key factor against a Utah squad that crashes the offensive glass hard.
Make sure to monitor the Portland Trail Blazers injury report for final confirmations. Dive deeper into trends with the Portland Trail Blazers schedule and stats.
Utah Jazz vs Portland Trail Blazers Matchup Breakdown
Expect a fast tempo from the opening tip. Both teams rank top-half in pace, and neither consistently controls possession length. That creates a game environment that suits scoring runs, big swings, and live betting opportunities.
The Jazz take more threes, but Portland gets to the line more often—an underrated edge in close spread games. Portland also protects the ball better, and they’re at home, where their energy level tends to spike.
Here’s where key edges lie:
- Transition: Portland scores more efficiently off turnovers; Utah gives the ball away too much.
- Foul Rate: Portland has a higher free throw rate, giving them more easy points.
- Defensive Rebounding: Slight edge to Portland recently, despite season-long struggles.
- Shot Profile: Utah is volume-heavy from deep; Portland balances midrange and rim looks.
Want to better understand how shot profiles affect betting totals? Check out this sports betting strategy guide for advanced edges.
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Utah Jazz vs Portland Trail Blazers Predictions and Best Bets
Let’s start with the number: Portland -6 is a fair opening line, but it’s likely to come down if Utah’s key starters are confirmed. I lean toward the Jazz +6 due to matchup volatility and Portland’s inconsistency as a favorite. That said, I’m not confident enough to play the side pregame.
The total is where things get more interesting. At 245.5, you’re paying for pace—but not necessarily shooting. Both teams go through cold spells, and while the tempo projects high, the efficiency may not. Unless there’s sharp movement pushing it down, the under still offers value at this number.
This is also a game that lends itself well to alternate totals, especially for bettors who want to scale risk based on in-game flow.
Best Bet: Under 245.5 (-111).
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