Jazz vs Spurs best bet: Under 117.5 1H (-115)

Afternoon games often lead to slow starts, with NBA players far more used to their routine than the general public may realize.

This game tips off at 3:00 p.m. on the Utah Jazz players' body clocks. That may seem anecdotal, but combine that reality with the San Antonio Spurs' Under tendencies — cashing eight straight Unders before Saturday's shootout between Victor Wembanyama and Anthony Edwards — and the sluggish start becomes that much more likely.

The stats broadly agree with this thought, too. Utah ranks No. 23 in offensive rating in the last 10 games, while San Antonio ranks No. 4 in defensive rating in that same stretch.

The Spurs should control this game in a rout until it eases to the final whistle.

Utah is evading notice thus far, enjoying only the seventh-worst record in the NBA, but the Jazz are very much tanking. They have gone 0-5 against the spread in their last five first halves, somehow losing a first quarter to Charlotte, 45-14.

This all may lead to a blowout, but Stephon Castle should clear his assist prop early. Ball movement is ripe against Utah.

• Under 117.5 1H 
• Spurs -10 1H
• Stephon Castle Over 7.5 assists

Doubting Wembanyama to score aplenty today is very much a doubt that the French star will need to play much in the fourth quarter, if at all.

• Under 117.5 1H 
• Spurs -10 1H
• Stephon Castle Over 7.5 assists
• Victor Wembanyama Under 25.5 points

• Spread: Jazz +16.5 | Spurs -16.5
• Moneyline: Jazz +700 | Spurs -1100
• Over/Under: Over 241 | Under 241

Before Saturday’s shootout against Anthony Edwards, the previous eight Spurs games had all gone Under their totals and by an average of 19.9 points per game. Find more NBA betting trends for Jazz vs. Spurs.

This article originally appeared on Covers.com, read the full article here