The Jazz are playing the second of back-to-back games, while the Pelicans are hoping to avoid the third consecutive defeat. With plenty of picks and markets to choose from, don’t waste your time and join the action at Get More Sports.
New Orleans Pelicans at Utah Jazz
Spread: New Orleans Pelicans -2 (-110) at BetDSI Sportsbook
Total: Over/Under 205.5 points (-110)
The Pelicans are searching for the first win over Utah in five games
The New Orleans Pelicans ended a three-game winning streak with a pair of defeats to the Golden State Warriors and most recently, to the Minnesota Timberwolves, who beat them 120:102 at Smoothie King Center. New Orleans is currently in the 7th position in the Western Conference with the 11-10 record, but the Jazz could surpass them on the standings with a potential victory here, so this tilt is quite important for the visitors as they are trying to remain above .500.
Losing the second quarter by 14 points to Minnesota was crucial in a home loss as the Pelicans couldn’t handle the Wolves and their fantastic field goal percentage (58%). Alvin Gentry’s side hit 14 triples on 35 attempts (40%), but that didn’t help as they recorded just 28 rebounds in opposite to Minnesota’s 44, all because of Anthony Davis’s ejection in the second quarter. That was the first time in his career he got ejected, and from that point on, it was clear that the Pelicans will suffer second defeat in a row. Jrue Holiday led New Orleans with 27 points (10-20 FG, 5-11 3PT), five assists, and two steals, while DeMarcus Cousins posted a double-double of 17 points and ten boards, along with six dimes. Anthony Davis ended the tilt with 17 points and five rebounds in 17 minutes, while Darius Miller scored 12 points. The rest of the players failed to reach double digits; Rajon Rondo had only three points but recorded a game-high seven assists, and I believe the dime number will improve on this one with Dais and Cousins on the floor for the entire match. The big guys are players to watch for the visitors as they face favorable matchups with Derrick Favors and Jonas Jerebko, so I am sure they will combine for 40+ points against the weakened Utah’s frontcourt. Rondo could have difficulties in a duel with defensively great Ricky Rubio, but he is not expected to contribute with points, but with assists, so Holiday will try to exploit the matchup with the rookie Donovan Mitchell, who is a solid offensive player but still has to learn in defense.
Alvin Gentry cannot count on Solomon Hill, and Alexis Ajinca who are injured and will not feature here, nut the rest of the squad is healthy and raring to go. The Pelicans are scoring 107.95 points per contest on average (9th in the NBA), while they are allowing 108.90 points in return (27th in the NBA). New Orleans is among the best five teams in the league (5th) when it comes to field goal shooting (47.87%), while their road offense is scoring 106.45 points per match, but it’s not going to be easy against the best home defense in the NBA.
Place: Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah
Date/Time: Friday, December 1st, 2017, 9 PM ET
TV Coverage: AT&T SPORTSNET – ROCKY MOUNTAIN, FOX SPORTS NEW ORLEANS
The Jazz are searching the fifth victory in a row and fourth straight at home
The Utah Jazz are playing surprisingly well at the moment given that they are without Rudy Gobert for quite some time now, but Quin Snyder’s team is giving the maximum to make up for the Frenchman’s absence. Utah won three straight games at home before visited Los Angeles and beat the Clippers 126:107 on Thursday, and now will return to Salt Lake for the second of back-to-back games. The Jazz are in the 8th position in the Western Conference with the 11-11 record, but a win here would send them a place above.
The first half at Staples Center was pretty balanced, but the Jazz stepped up after the interval and scored 65 points opposite to the Clippers’ 46, while they had a fantastic 57.6% from the field. Utah hit 17 threes on 35 attempts (48.6%), dominated in assists (38-23), and committed 13 turnovers while the hosts had 19. Alec Burks led Utah with a season-high 28 points (11-17 FG, 4-6 3PT), seven rebounds, five dimes, and game-high three thefts, while Donovan Mitchell followed him on the box score with 24 points and six dishes. Thabo Sefolosha matched his season-high 15 points, Ricky Rubio contributed with 15 points, six assists, and two steals, while Jonas Jerebko scored 14 points. Joe Ingles added 12 points and six dimes, and Derrick Favors posted his fifth double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 boards, along with four dishes. Favors will have a tough time in the paint when he faces the Pelicans giants Davis and Cousins, so I think he will struggle, and getting into the foul trouble early in the game can only additionally hurt the Jazz. Utah will have to look elsewhere for points, and they have better shooters that New Orleans, so I expect them to hit the visitors from the wings. Mitchell and Burks are the men to watch for the hosts, while Rubio should lay a significant role on both ends of the floor.
Quin Snyder is still without a starting center Rudy Gobert who is out with a knee injury and will miss his tenth straight match but will be back in a week or two, so Favors will continue to log heavy minutes at the center in his absence. Jonas Jerebko will remain the starting power forward, while Ekpe Udoh will see more minutes on the floor. Rodney Hood missed the tilt with the Clippers due to a left ankle soreness and is questionable to perform here, so in case he is unable to play, Burks and Mitchell will have more responsibilities in the offense. The veteran guard Joe Johnson is out for two more weeks with a wrist injury, while Raul Neto is questionable with a hamstring injury. The Jazz are scoring 102.64 points per contest on average (22nd in the NBA), while they are allowing 99.64 points in return (5th in the NBA). Utah is among the best five teams in the league (4th) in shooting from downtown (38.59%), and they are the first in free-throw shooting (82.67%). They are at the top of the NBA when it comes to home defense as Utah allows just 94.85 points per game to the rivals at Vivint Smart Home Arena.
New Orleans Pelicans at Utah Jazz Trends & Prediction
The Pelicans are 12-9 against the spread (7-4 away), while they are 10-11 on over/under (5-6 away), and even though the Jazz are in good form of late, they have to be a bit tired from last night’s match, so I am backing New Orleans on this one.
The Jazz are 12-10 against the spread (9-4 home), while they are 10-11-1 on over/under (5-8 home), and even though Utah is playing very well at home lately, I don’t think they will beat the visitors with a big margin, so I expect a close encounter on Friday.
My Pick: New Orleans Pelicans -2 (-110)
Total: Pass
