New Orleans Pelicans at Utah Jazz NBA Picks & Predictions 12/1/2017

Friday, December 1, 2017

Vivint Smart Home Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The New Orleans Pelicans head to Vivint Smart Home Arena to take on the Utah Jazz on Friday, December 1, 2017. The opening line for this game has New Orleans as 2 point favorites.

The Pelicans come into this game with an overall record of 11-10. They are 3rd in the Southwest Division. They currently have a point differential of -0.9 as they are averaging 108.0 points per game while giving up 108.9 per contest. The Jazz have an overall record of 10-11. They currently are 4th in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 101.5 points per game and surrendering 99.3, good for a point differential of 2.2.

Valuable New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends

The New Orleans Pelicans are 12-9-0 against the spread

The New Orleans Pelicans are 10-11-0 against the over/under

Important Utah Jazz Betting Trends

The Utah Jazz are 11-10-0 against the spread

The Utah Jazz are 9-11-1 against the over/under

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

10/20/17 C Alexis Ajinca Knee is out indefinitely
10/14/17 F Solomon Hill Hamstring is out indefinitely

Key Utah Jazz Injuries

11/29/17 G Rodney Hood Ankle is "?" Thursday vs LA Clippers
11/12/17 C Rudy Gobert Tibia is out indefinitely
10/31/17 G Joe Johnson Wrist is out indefinitely
10/06/17 PG Dante Exum Shoulder is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Jrue Holiday comes into this game averaging 15.7 points per contest while playing 36.1 minutes per night so far this year. He grabs 4.3 rebounds per contest and distributes 5.7 assists per game. His FG percentage is 46% while his free throw percentage is 85%. Demarcus Cousins averages 25.1 points per contest in 35.5 minutes per game this year. He averages 5.4 assists per game and 12.5 rebounds per contest for New Orleans. His field goal percentage is 46% for the season while his free throw percentage is 76%.

Player Spotlight

Donovan Mitchell has scored 14.9 points per contest while playing 28.3 minutes per game this season for the Jazz. He hauls in 3.2 rebounds per contest and has 3.1 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 38% and his free throw percentage is at 82%. Rodney Hood averages 17.7 points per game this year and he's on the court an average of 28.3 minutes per game. He also brings in 2.6 rebounds per game and 1.8 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is 92%.

Useful Team Statistics

New Orleans averages 108 points per contest this year, which is 8th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -0.95 and their shooting percentage is 48% as a unit, which has them ranked 5th. From 3-point territory they shoot 35%, which is good for 26th in the NBA. They average 43.5 boards per contest and 26 assists per game, which ranks them 15th and 2nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 6th with 16.6 per game. The Pelicans allow 108.9 points per contest which is 27th in the NBA. They also surrender a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 17th and 12th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 44 rebounds a game which ranks 19th, and they allow 23.4 assists per game which puts them in 21st place in the league. They force 15.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 22nd in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Utah is 25th in the NBA with 101.5 points per contest this season. They are 22nd in the league in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is 2.24. They shoot 38% from beyond the arc, which is good for 8th in the league. They are 27th in the NBA in rebounding with 40.3 boards per contest and 22nd in assists per game with 21. The Jazz are 15th in turnovers per contest with 15.1. The Jazz give up 99.3 points per game, which ranks them 5th in the league. Their defense is surrendering a 45% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 13th and 22nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 2nd with 18.2 dimes allowed per game and 20th with 44.1 boards surrendered per contest. The Jazz are 29th in the league in forcing turnovers with 17.5 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Pelicans are 14th in the league in defensive rating with 108.2, and their offensive rating of 107.3 is ranked 13th. They are 7th in the NBA in pace with 100.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 6th. As a unit they are 6th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 14th in the NBA. New Orleans is 4th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 13th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Utah is 11th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.3 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 17th in the NBA. The Jazz are 22nd in the league in defensive rating with 103.2, and their offensive rating of 105.6 is ranked 27th. They are 27th in the NBA in pace with 95.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 18th. As a unit they are 15th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 11th in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's Pelicans/Jazz NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Utah +2

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