Sixers vs. Jazz NBA expert prediction, odds and key players for Thursday, Feb. 1 (Utah gets right at home)

This road trip has been a nightmare for the Philadelphia 76ers with four consecutive losses, three by double figures. Philadelphia ends the five-game stretch away from home Thursday night in Utah but will be severely shorthanded once again. Does Philadelphia have a chance to pull out an upset? 

Just a few weeks ago, the Jazz had worked their way to two games over .500 (22-20) with a six-game winning streak. Since then, though, Utah has been in free fall, losing two straight and five of seven overall. Does a return home fix things? 

Here’s the betting preview for Thursday with a best bet. 

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Sixers vs. Jazz odds, spread and total

Sixers vs. Jazz how to watch

• Date: Thursday, Feb. 1
• Game time: 10 p.m. EST
• Venue: Delta Center
• How to watch (TV): TNT
• Sixers record: 29-17
• Jazz record: 24-25

Sixers vs. Jazz injury reports

Philadelphia 76ers injury report

• De’Anthony Melton (back): out
• Kenneth Lofton Jr. (personal): out
• Joel Embiid (knee): out 
• Marcus Morris Sr. (foot): doubtful
• Nicolas Batum (hamstring): questionable
• Tyrese Maxey (ankle): questionable

Utah Jazz injury report

• No injuries to report

Sixers vs. Jazz key players to watch

Sixers

Tobias Harris: Harris, a 31-year-old veteran forward, has been one of the only healthy Philadelphia stars over the last two games since returning from his own injury and will have to carry the load offensively. Harris is averaging 17.7 points and 6 rebounds per game and looked better in his second game back in the lineup in Tuesday’s loss to Golden State, turning in a 26-point, 10-rebound double-double on 10-of-18 shooting. 

Jazz 

Lauri Markkanen: The former first-round pick has been a stat-stuffer for the Jazz in 39 starts this season, ranking top-25 in the NBA in scoring (23.5 points per game) and rebounds (8.7) while shooting nearly 50% from the field. The Arizona product has struggled the last two games, though, going just 9-of-26 from the field (3-of-12 from 3-point range) for 27 combined points. He could feast against an injury-plagued 76ers lineup. 

Sixers vs. Jazz prediction and pick

The numbers have been downright ugly for the 76ers with Maxey and Embiid out. The first two losses of the road trip were against tough competition (Indiana, Denver), but the 76ers were brutal in the previous two, losing as a big favorite at Portland by 26 points and stumbling in the second half in a 12-point loss to the sub-.500 Warriors. 

Utah is looking for a remedy after its lousy road trip and a return to the Delta Center should do it. The Jazz are an NBA-best 16-5 ATS at home this season and the 76ers are just 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games on the road. 

The Jazz are 24th in defensive rating in the NBA, but that ranking jumps up to No. 14 at home. Against a 76ers lineup without the reigning MVP, they should have success on both sides of the ball. Offensively, Utah averaged 134.7 points per game at home in nine January games and the Jazz should get all the open looks they want against Philadelphia’s lackluster banged-up defense. Take the Jazz. 

Game odds update periodically and are subject to change