Utah Jazz at Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Picks & Predictions 12/16/2017

Saturday, December 16, 2017

Quicken Loans Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Utah Jazz travel to Quicken Loans Arena to play the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, December 16, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Cleveland as 8.5 point favorites.

The Jazz come into this game with an overall record of 13-15. They are 5th in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 3.0 as they are averaging 103.0 points per game while giving up 100.0 per contest. The Cavaliers have an overall mark of 21-8. They currently are 1st in the Central Division. They are averaging 111.3 points per contest and giving up 107.6, which is a point differential of 3.7.

Valuable Utah Jazz Betting Trends

The Utah Jazz are 15-13-0 against the spread

The Utah Jazz are 14-13-1 against the over/under

Important Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Trends

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 10-18-1 against the spread

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 15-13-1 against the over/under

Key Utah Jazz Injuries

12/14/17 G Joe Johnson Wrist is upgraded to probable Friday vs Boston
12/14/17 PG Raul Neto Concussion is downgraded to OUT Friday vs Boston
10/06/17 PG Dante Exum Shoulder is out indefinitely

Key Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries

12/14/17 C Tristan Thompson Calf is "?" Saturday vs Utah
11/30/17 G Iman Shumpert Knee is out indefinitely
11/17/17 PG Derrick Rose Ankle is out indefinitely
10/16/17 PG Isaiah Thomas Hip is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Donovan Mitchell averages 17.8 points per game in 29.9 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.3 assists per contest and 3 rebounds per game for Utah. His field goal percentage is 42% for the year while his free throw percentage is 84%. Rudy Gobert comes into this contest averaging 12.2 points per game while playing 31.6 minutes per night so far this season for the Jazz. He pulls down 10.1 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 60% while his free throw percentage is currently at 68%.

Player Spotlight

Kevin Love averages 19.4 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 29.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 10.5 rebounds per contest and 1.9 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 47% and his free throw percentage is 87%. Lebron James averages 28.1 points per game while playing 37.3 minutes per contest this year for the Cavaliers. He grabs 8.3 rebounds per game and has 9.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 58% and his free throw percentage currently is at 76%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Jazz allow 100 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 4th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 13th and 22nd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.4 rebounds a game which ranks 18th, and they give up 18.8 assists per contest which puts them in 2nd place in the league. They force 16.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 29th in the league. Utah averages 103 points per contest this season, which ranks them 22nd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 2.93 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 18th. Behind the arc they shoot 38% which is good for 5th in the league. They average 40.3 rebounds per game and 21.9 assists per game, which ranks them 26th and 21st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 14th with 15 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Cavaliers surrender 107.6 points per contest, which ranks them 23rd in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 20th and 18th in those defensive statistics. They rank 29th with 25.3 assists allowed per contest, and 15th with 43 rebounds surrendered per game. The Cavaliers are 8th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.3 per game this season. Cleveland is 3rd in the league with 111.3 points per game this year. They are 3rd in the league in shooting at 48%, while their average scoring margin is 3.72. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 7th in the NBA. They are 22nd in the league in rebounding with 41.9 boards per game and 5th in assists per contest with 23.8. The Cavaliers are 16th in turnovers per game with 14.8.

Advanced Statistics

The Jazz are 14th in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.4, and their defensive rating of 104.3 is ranked 27th. In terms of pace they are 25th in the league with 95.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 11th. As a team they are 9th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shots, ranking 8th in the league. Utah is 9th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.5 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 19th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Cleveland is 14th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 5th in the NBA. The Cavaliers are 3rd in the league in defensive rating with 110.1, and their offensive rating of 113.9 is ranked 7th. They are 13th in the NBA in pace with 97.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 56% is 3rd. As a unit they are 3rd in the league in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 39% of their shot attempts, ranking 3rd in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Cleveland -8.5

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