Oklahoma City Thunder at Utah Jazz NBA Picks & Predictions 12/23/2017

Saturday, December 23, 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, December 23, 2017.

The Thunder come into this game with an overall record of 16-15. They are 3rd in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 2.6 as they are averaging 102.1 points per game while giving up 99.5 per contest. The Jazz have an overall mark of 15-18. They currently are 5th in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 102.1 points per contest and giving up 100.6, which is a point differential of 1.5.

Valuable Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 10-20-1 against the spread

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 12-19-0 against the over/under

Important Utah Jazz Betting Trends

The Utah Jazz are 18-15-0 against the spread

The Utah Jazz are 16-16-1 against the over/under

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Utah Jazz Injuries

12/22/17 G Donovan Mitchell Toe is "?" Saturday vs Oklahoma City
12/22/17 PG Raul Neto Concussion is "?" Saturday vs Oklahoma City
12/16/17 C Rudy Gobert Ankle is out indefinitely
10/06/17 PG Dante Exum Shoulder is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Russell Westbrook comes into this contest averaging 23.3 points per game while playing 36.2 minutes per night so far this season for the Thunder. He pulls down 9.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 9.7 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 40% while his free throw percentage is currently at 71%. Paul George averages 19.8 points per game in 37 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.2 assists per contest and 5.7 rebounds per game for Oklahoma City. His field goal percentage is 41% for the year while his free throw percentage is 81%.

Player Spotlight

Rodney Hood averages 18.1 points per game while playing 28.5 minutes per contest this year for the Jazz. He grabs 2.5 rebounds per game and has 1.8 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage currently is at 87%. Donovan Mitchell averages 17.7 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 3 rebounds per contest and 3.4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

Oklahoma City averages 102.1 points per contest this season, which ranks them 23rd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 2.52 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a team, which has them ranked 28th. Behind the arc they shoot 35% which is good for 25th in the league. They average 44 rebounds per game and 20.7 assists per game, which ranks them 12th and 24th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 13th with 14.9 per game. The Thunder allow 99.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 3rd in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 6th and 10th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42 rebounds a game which ranks 9th and they give up 21.3 assists per contest, which puts them in 8th place in the league. They force 17.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 30th in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Utah is 24th in the league with 102.1 points per game this year. They are 17th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is 1.42. They shoot 39% from 3-point range, which is good for 3rd in the NBA. They are 26th in the league in rebounding with 40.4 boards per game, and 22nd in assists per contest with 21.3. The Jazz are 17th in turnovers per game with 14.8. The Jazz surrender 100.6 points per contest, which ranks them 5th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 16th and 24th in those defensive statistics. They rank 2nd with 19.3 assists allowed per contest and 16th with 43 rebounds surrendered per game. The Jazz are 26th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 16 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Thunder are 18th in the NBA in offensive rating with 105.8, and their defensive rating of 103.2 is ranked 29th. In terms of pace they are 26th in the league with 95.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 27th. As a team they are 28th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 17th in the league. Oklahoma City is 20th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.4 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 20th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Utah is 10th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 14th in the NBA. The Jazz are 14th in the league in defensive rating with 105.6, and their offensive rating of 107 is ranked 22nd. They are 27th in the NBA in pace with 95 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 10th. As a unit they are 9th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shot attempts, ranking 8th in the NBA.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Oklahoma City

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