Jazz vs. Rockets prediction and odds for NBA Summer League semifinal

The Houston Rockets and Utah Jazz have not lost a game in Las Vegas, but one of them has to lose on Sunday with a trip to the Summer League championship on the line. 

Utah lost first-round pick Keyonte George to an ankle injury, and the team only beat the Phoenix Suns by four points in their last game. Utah hasn’t had its other first-round pick Taylor Hendricks this summer either. 

Meanwhile, the Rockets pulled Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason from the Summer League while losing No. 4 overall pick Amen Thompson to an ankle injury. 

That makes this a tough matchup to handicap, but the Rockets have thrived with every roster they’ve used this summer, winning three straight games by double digits. 

Here are the odds and my best bet for this semifinal matchup: 

Jazz vs. Rockets odds, spread and total

Spread

• Jazz +4.5 (-110)
• Rockets -4.5 (-110)

Moneyline

• Jazz: +155
• Rockets: -180

Total

• 189 (Over -110/Under -110)

Odds are available via DraftKings Sportsbook. 

Jazz vs. Rockets prediction and pick

Even though the Jazz are down several players, I still think this spread is a little too wide given how many players Houston is down. 

Cam Whitmore has been the driving force for the Rockets in their last few games, but the team also recently played a Golden State team that has struggled this summer. 

The Jazz still have NBA talent on their roster between Micah Potter, Johnny Juzang and Luka Samancic on their roster, so it’s not crazy to think that they can hang around in this game. 

Utah’s last two games have been closer (four and five point wins), but they were still wins. 

This should be one of the best matchups of the Summer League, so I’ll wager on it staying close with a championship berth on the line. 

Pick: Jazz +4.5 (-110)

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.