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Monday's free NBA picks for January 12, 2009 is Utah as the -11 home favorite at SBG Global. Utah has won 3 of the last 4 games against Indiana, two of which were blowouts by more than the current spread. The Pacers did manage a huge upset win on the road against Utah early last season, however.
This season, Indiana is struggling with just 13 wins while Utah has 22 and looks to win 4 straight with a victory over the Pacers Monday night.
The Jazz are 14-1 ATS in home games after a non-conference game.
Utah is not without its injuries. The same day Utah (22-15) beat Detroit 99-82 on Saturday, the Jazz learned their star, Carlos Boozer, will be out at least four more weeks while recovering from knee surgery a day earlier.
"I like the way our team has been trying to play here lately -- trying to pass the ball, trying to execute our offense," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said.
Mehmet Okur had 22 points while Ronnie Brewer added 16 on Saturday for Utah, which shot 53.5 percent. The Jazz are shooting 51.3 percent and averaging 111.3 points during their current three-game winning stretch.
Paul Millsap had nine points and four rebounds, ending his streak of 19 straight double-doubles. Since filling the void left in the starting lineup by Boozer's absence, the third-year forward is averaging 18.0 points and 11.4 rebounds.
"Hopefully I'll get another (streak) started," Millsap said. "I don't think about it too much. I just think of it as me playing (hard) and things like that come with it."
Tyrone Black, Gambling911.com
