PRO BASKETBALL — February 22

ATLANTA at UTAH
(Jazz -4, Total 196.5) — [private] The Jazz has been a red-hot team, and won its 13th in the last 14 last night, but had to put forth a gargantuan effort in coming back from 25 points down to beat Portland in overtime. They did it short-handed as well, with Mehmet Okur missing because his wife is having a baby, and Andrei Kirilenko sidelined early with back spasms. Okur won’t play much tonight, which means more minutes for Kyrylo Fesenko, and it would not be surprising at all if Utah was very sapped. Atlanta has not shown great form in the last couple of games, dropping decisions to the Suns and Warriors, but we know what the Hawks are made of, and they have covered six of eight games when getting four points or more. The Jazz laid it all out there last night, and this doesn’t leave a lot of time to recover. Points on the inside may be difficult, with Atlanta intimidators Al Horford and Josh Smith in the lane.

THE PLAY: ATLANTA +4 ***

(All information is for news matter only; All games are graded on a scale of 1-4 stars. Lines are subject to change)
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