The New Orleans Pelicans travel to Salt Lake City to take on the Jazz at the Vivint Smart Home Arena on Tuesday night.
New Orleans snapped a five-game losing streak with a win over the Sacramento Kings in their last assignment. Meanwhile, the Jazz are the hottest team in the league right now with five consecutive wins. Utah is third in the West behind the two Los Angeles teams while the Pelicans are still outside the Top 10 in the conference. The last time these teams played each other was June 30, 2020, with Utah winning 106-104 at New Orleans.
The New Orleans Pelicans are 5-7 on the season and are 4th in the Southwest Division and are 12th in the Western Conference team standings. In their last game, the Pelicans spoiled a 43-point game by De’Aaron Fox as they beat the Sacramento Kings 128-123 to end a five-game losing streak.
All-Star forward Brandon Ingram is averaging 23.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game this season. Zion Williamson is also putting up 22.6 points and 8.3 boards grabbed per contest. Steven Adams leads the team in rebounding at 9.1 boards grabbed per contest and is also scoring 10.1 points per game. Lonzo Ball, Eric Bledsoe, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker are also scoring in double-digits.
The Pelicans rank 24th in the league in scoring at 107.8 points per game this season. They are the 4th best rebounding team in the NBA at 48.3 boards grabbed per contest and are 24th in passing at 22.8 assists per game. New Orleans owns the 10th best scoring defense in the league at 108.8 points per game allowed.
The Utah Jazz are 9-4 on the season and are currently on top of the Northwest Division team standings and third in the Western Conference. The Jazz, who are the betting favorite to win their division, head to this home game with a five-game winning streak. In their last assignment, the Jazz traveled to the Pepsi Center and outdueled the Denver Nuggets in a rematch of their thrilling first-round playoff series last season.
Donovan Mitchell leads Utah in scoring at 23.2 points per game while also averaging 5.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per contest. Mike Conley is the team’s leading passer at 6.0 assists per game while also scoring 16.8 points per game. Jordan Clarkson is adding 17.5 points per game off the bench while Bojan Bogdanovic is adding 13.5 PPG. Rudy Gobert is the team’s defensive anchor at 13.3 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game.
Utah is ranked 16th in scoring at 110.5 points per game this season. The Jazz are 23rd in passing at 22.9 assists per game. They are, however, the top rebounding team in the NBA at 49.3 boards grabbed per contest and have the 4th best scoring defense in the league at only 105.4 points per game allowed.
New Orleans is 5-1 SU in their last six games played. The Pelicans are 3-8 SU in their last 11 games played on the road. Utah is 5-0 SU in their last six games played. The Jazz are 2-2 SU in four home games played this season, and 4-1 SU in their last five games against the Western Conference. Head to head, the Jazz are 7-3 SU in their last 10 games played against the Pelicans. Utah is also 10-4 SU in their last 14 home games against New Orleans.
The Pelicans finally snapped out of their losing streak the last time out. However, New Orleans ranked in the 27th percentile in defensive points per possession allowed last week and if they are to beat the Jazz, their defense needs to shape up.
Utah is ranked 4th in three-point shooting percentage and second in attempts while the Pelicans allow the most three-point attempts among the league’s teams.
Lonzo Ball may return for the Pelicans here and his length is going to help New Orleans defend the perimeter. Even then, Jordan Clarkson has looked unstoppable for the Jazz as of late and unless the Pelicans limit Clarkson here, I think Utah just has too much firepower even for New Orleans’ Top 10 scoring defense. I like Mitchell, Bogdanovic, and Clarkson to light up the scoreboards and beat the Pelicans with the superior offense.
Prediction: Utah Jazz
Pelicans are 5-10 ATS in their last 15 games played. New Orleans is 4-3 ATS in seven road games played this season, and 2-4 ATS in their last six January games. Utah is 5-0 ATS in their last five games played. The Jazz are 2-2 ATS in four home games played this season, and 5-1 ATS in their last six games against the Southwest division. Head to head, the Jazz are 6-4 ATS in their last 10 games played against the Pelicans. Utah is also 10-4-1 ATS in their last 15 games played against New Orleans.
The Jazz defense has been terrific during their current winning run and they are facing a Pelicans team that has been struggling on offense. New Orleans snapped a five-game skid the last time out but their defense is going to be tested by the Jazz who have three guards who can light up the scoreboards. And while the Pelicans have Brandon Ingram, they will have a hard time containing Utah’s scorers in Mitchell, Conley, and Clarkson. Gobert is going to make life miserable for the Jazz inside the paint. The Jazz are on a roll right now and four out of their last five wins have been by double digits. I’d like to ride their streak.
Prediction: Utah Jazz -6.5
The total has gone over in six out of the last seven games played by New Orleans. The Pelicans have seen the total go under in five out of their seven road games played this season. The under is also 10-4 in the Pelicans’ last 14 games played against the Western Conference. The total has gone under in five out of the last six games played by the Jazz. The under is 4-0 in Utah’s four home games played this season, and the under is 5-1 in their last six January games. Head to head, the total has gone over in 11 out of the last 16 meetings between these two teams.
The Jazz lead the league in opponent’s effective FG and are also the owners of the 4th best scoring defense in the NBA at 104.5 points per game allowed. Utah has limited its last four opponents to 105 points or fewer including three under 100 points. The Jazz are also in the bottom half in offense at 110.5 points per game scored. The Pelicans are Top 10 in scoring defense and have the 7th lowest scoring average among all NBA teams at 107.8 points per game this season. The Pelicans have scored 110 or fewer points in four out of their last five games and both these teams rank in the bottom quarter of the league in pace. I like these teams to hit the under.
Prediction: Under 218
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