Los Angeles at Utah

Utah is home, which means defense is going to take center court. Utah is tops in the NBA in points allowed (96.8 points per game), and second in field goal shooting defense. They prefer a slow pace for coach Quin Snyder and won't get into a running game with Jazz center Rudy Gobert (knee) questionable. The Clippers can play great defense, too, behind Center DeAndre Jordan at #12 in points allowed during the regular season, #11 in field goal shooting defense, and eighth at defending the three-pointer. The Clippers are 19-7 UNDER the total when playing on two days of rest. The Jazz won Game 1, 97-95, shooting 48% and the Clippers won Game 2 99-91, with both games going UNDER the total. Utah is 13-6 UNDER the total when following a straight-up loss and this shapes up as a slow, grind-it-out defensive slugfest again. Play the UNDER in the first half and full game.