Utah Jazz vs. Toronto Raptors: Prediction, Preview, Picks & Odds - 2/10/2023

Time: 7:30 p.m. ET

Venue: Scotiabank Arena, Toronto, ON

Where to watch: TSN, ATTSN-RM

DraftKings: Raptors -8

FanDuel: Raptors -7.5

BetMGM: Raptors -7.5

Caesars: Raptors -8

Jazz: 27-29

Raptors: 26-30

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Jazz: lost 143-118 vs. Timberwolves

Raptors: won 112-98 vs. Spurs

Still very much in playoff contention, the Utah Jazz made the notion in the past 48 hours that they intend to sell. Moving on from pieces like Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt in the three-team trade with the Lakers and Timberwolves centered around D’Angelo Russell and Russell Westbrook, the Jazz are going forward with a boat load of draft picks and a young core to build around. The first game since that trade didn’t work out, but the Jazz will try to bounce back against a team that was expected to make a move but didn’t, the Toronto Raptors, in Toronto on Friday.

The Jazz got back Westbrook, the former MVP whose career seems to be running out without trying to adapt to his game, but a buyout is expected to send Westbrook elsewhere. So the Jazz more so moved on, punting on this season and going with the group they have of Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton and Jordan Clarkson. Moving on from Mike Conley, who goes to the Minnesota in the deal, ends the veteran presence in that room.

"It's definitely tough losing a guy like Mike -- that leader, great point guard," Clarkson said. "The guy that makes everybody's life easier on the court, and his energy off the court and what he brings to the team, a guy who was never down, I never thought he had a bad day, a guy who just took everybody for who they were. It's a big loss."

The Jazz lost their third straight game to the Timberwolves, because of course they did, 143-118 on Wednesday with Russell and Conley both out of the game. Sexton led the way with 22 points, and Markkanen had 21 points in 23 minutes. Walker Kessler, the rookie whose performance paved the way to move on from Vanderbilt, had 16 points in nine rebounds. The defense just couldn’t stop a nosebleed and gave up 57 percent shooting, while allowing 23 made 3-pointers.

The onus now falls on Sexton, whom the Jazz acquired in the Donovan Mitchell trade with Cleveland, to play more point guard minutes.

"He's fully capable from a physical standpoint of having a great impact defensively," Jazz coach Will Hardy said. "He can get really low, he's very explosive, super strong. He can get through screens and it's going to just be, every day continuing to work on that technique -- and the mindset of you can impact the game in a lot of other ways besides just scoring."

Utah still has a chance to really make the fans happy and go for the playoffs, but subtracting without adding hurts. Hence why the Jazz are 8-point underdogs going into this matchup with a Toronto team that kept everyone and still might miss the playoffs.

Toronto has won three in a row, however, after a 112-98 win over the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday. It was an easy cover at 10.5 for the Raptors, who are trusting the group of Fred VanVleet, Pascal Siakam and Scottie Barnes at least until the summer. What general manager Masai Ujiri does after that is anyone’s guess.

Siakam finished with a game-high 37 points to go with 10 rebound and seven assists, and VanVleet had 16 points. Chris Boucher provided 18 points and 11 rebounds in 30 minutes off the bench.

“He just looked assertive and aggressive from the jump,” VanVleet said of Siakam. “That’s what we need from him. He was great for us tonight. He carried us.”

It’s going to be a little bit before we get the full scale of the Jazz now that they’ve lost three pieces, but I wouldn’t trust that group until further notice. The Raptors are on a roll and winning at home would be another sign of good faith in this roster. Raptors 117, Jazz 104

Jazz are 20-7 ATS as an underdog.

Jazz are 5-14 ATS after 2 straight overs this season.

Raptors are 13-9 ATS as a home favorite this season.

PG: Collin Sexton

SG: Jordan Clarkson

SF: Lauri Markkanen

PF: Kelly Olynyk

C: Walker Kessler

PG: Fred VanVleet

SG: Gary Trent Jr.

SF: O.G. Anunoby

PF: Scottie Barnes

C: Pascal Siakam

Points: Lauri Markkanen -- 24.7

Rebounds: Lauri Markkanen -- 8.6

Assists: Jordan Clarkson -- 4.2

Points: Pascal Siakam -- 25.0

Rebounds: Pascal Siakam -- 8.0

Assists: Fred VanVleet -- 6.5