Oklahoma City Thunder at Utah Jazz NBA Picks & Predictions 10/21/2017

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Vivint Smart Home Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Oklahoma City Thunder travel to Vivint Smart Home Arena to play the Utah Jazz on Saturday, October 21, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Oklahoma City as 4 point favorites.

The Thunder head into this matchup after finishing last year with a mark of 47-35. They were 2nd in the Northwest Division. They had a point differential of 0.8 as they averaged 106.6 points per contest while giving up 105.8 per game. The Jazz had an overall mark of 51-31 last year. They were 1st in the Northwest Division. They averaged 100.7 points per contest and gave up 96.8, which was a point differential of 3.9.

Valuable Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends

The Oklahoma City Thunder were 45-36-1 against the spread last season

The Oklahoma City Thunder were 33-43-6 against the over/under last year

Important Utah Jazz Betting Trends

The Utah Jazz were 35-43-4 against the spread last season

The Utah Jazz were 42-40-0 against the over/under last year

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

10/19/17 F Kyle Singler Undisclosed is "?"

Key Utah Jazz Injuries

10/19/17 PG Raul Neto Leg is "?" Friday vs. Minnesota
10/06/17 PG Dante Exum Shoulder out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Russell Westbrook comes into this contest after averaging 31.6 points per game while playing 34.6 minutes per night last season. He pulled down 10.7 rebounds per game and dished out 10.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage was 43% while his free throw percentage finished at 85%. Paul George averaged 23.7 points per game in 35.9 minutes per contest last season. He averaged 3.3 assists per contest and 6.6 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage was 46% for the year while his free throw percentage was 90%.

Player Spotlight

Rudy Gobert averaged 14 points per game while playing 33.9 minutes per contest last year. He grabbed 12.8 rebounds per game and had 1.2 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage was 66% and his free throw percentage was at 65%. Ricky Rubio averaged 11.1 points per game last season and he saw the court an average of 32.9 minutes per contest. He also averaged 4.1 rebounds per contest and 9.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage was 40% and his free throw percentage was 89%.

Useful Team Statistics

Oklahoma City averaged 106.6 points per contest last season, which ranked them 11th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin was 0.76 and their shooting percentage was 45% as a team, which had them ranked 17th. Behind the arc they shot 33% which was good for 30th in the league. They averaged 46.6 rebounds per game and 21 assists per game, which ranked them 1st and 25th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they ranked 8th with 15 per game. The Thunder allowed 105.8 points per game to their opponents which ranked them 16th in the league. They also allowed a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 19th and 14th in those defensive categories. Opponents averaged 40.6 rebounds a game which ranked 3rd and they gave up 21.4 assists per contest, which put them in 6th place in the league. They forced 13.8 turnovers per game which ranked them 13th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Utah was 28th in the league with 100.7 points per game last year. They were 9th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin was 3.94. They shot 37% from 3-point range, which was good for 8th in the NBA. They were 20th in the league in rebounding with 43.2 boards per game, and 28th in assists per contest with 20.1. The Jazz were 19th in turnovers per game with 13.6. The Jazz surrendered 96.8 points per contest, which ranked them 1st in the NBA. Their defense allowed a 44% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 4th and 17th in those defensive statistics. They ranked 1st with 17.8 assists allowed per contest and 1st with 40.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Jazz were 2nd in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 12.1 per game last season.

Advanced Statistics

The Thunder were 16th in the league in defensive rating with 107.5, and their offensive rating of 108.3 was ranked 21st. They were 9th in the NBA in pace with 97.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 50% was 24th. As a unit they were 21st in the league in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shot 3-pointers on 30% of their shot attempts, ranking 19th in the NBA. Oklahoma City was 11th in turnovers, as they turned the ball over an average of 13.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year was 51%, which was 18th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Utah was 12th in the league in turnovers, as they turned the ball over an average of 13.2 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.8 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year was 49%, which was 28th in the NBA. The Jazz were 12th in the league in defensive rating with 105.3, and their offensive rating of 109.6 was ranked 28th. They were 30th in the NBA in pace with 91.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% was 8th. As a unit they were 10th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shot 3-pointers on 33% of their shot attempts, ranking 11th in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Utah +4

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