Utah Jazz at Houston Rockets NBA Picks & Predictions 12/18/2017

Monday, December 18, 2017

Toyota Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Utah Jazz travel to Toyota Center to play the Houston Rockets on Monday, December 18, 2017.

The Jazz come into this game with an overall record of 14-16. They are 5th in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 2.8 as they are averaging 103.0 points per game while giving up 100.2 per contest. The Rockets have an overall mark of 24-4. They currently are 1st in the Southwest Division. They are averaging 115.1 points per contest and giving up 104.2, which is a point differential of 10.9.

Valuable Utah Jazz Betting Trends

The Utah Jazz are 17-13-0 against the spread

The Utah Jazz are 15-14-1 against the over/under

Important Houston Rockets Betting Trends

The Houston Rockets are 15-12-1 against the spread

The Houston Rockets are 14-14-0 against the over/under

Key Utah Jazz Injuries

12/16/17 F Derrick Favors Head is "?" Monday vs Houston
12/16/17 PG Raul Neto Concussion is "?" Monday vs Houston
12/16/17 C Rudy Gobert Ankle is out indefinitely
10/06/17 PG Dante Exum Shoulder is out indefinitely

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

12/17/17 G James Harden Knee is probable Monday vs Utah
12/16/17 C Clint Capela Heel is "?" Monday vs Utah
12/14/17 F Luc Mbah a Moute Shoulder is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Donovan Mitchell averages 18.1 points per game in 30.4 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.4 assists per contest and 3 rebounds per game for Utah. His field goal percentage is 43% for the year while his free throw percentage is 84%. Rodney Hood comes into this contest averaging 17.2 points per game while playing 28.2 minutes per night so far this season for the Jazz. He pulls down 2.6 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.9 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 42% while his free throw percentage is currently at 88%.

Player Spotlight

Eric Gordon averages 18.6 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 31.3 minutes per contest. He also averages 2 rebounds per contest and 2.2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is 84%. James Harden averages 31.5 points per game while playing 35.8 minutes per contest this year for the Rockets. He grabs 5.2 rebounds per game and has 9.1 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage currently is at 86%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Jazz allow 100.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 3rd 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 42.9 rebounds a game which ranks 13th, and they give up 19.2 assists per contest which puts them in 2nd place in the league. They force 16.2 turnovers per game which ranks them 27th in the league. Utah averages 103 points per contest this season, which ranks them 21st in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 2.83 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 17th. Behind the arc they shoot 39% which is good for 2nd in the league. They average 40.7 rebounds per game and 21.8 assists per game, which ranks them 26th and 21st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 17th with 14.9 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Rockets surrender 104.2 points per contest, which ranks them 13th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 17th and 12th in those defensive statistics. They rank 12th with 21.9 assists allowed per contest, and 2nd with 40.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Rockets are 20th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.7 per game this season. Houston is 2nd in the league with 115.1 points per game this year. They are 8th in the league in shooting at 47%, while their average scoring margin is 10.93. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 13th in the NBA. They are 14th in the league in rebounding with 43.9 boards per game and 13th in assists per contest with 22.6. The Rockets are 11th in turnovers per game with 15.4.

Advanced Statistics

The Jazz are 13th in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.6, and their defensive rating of 104.7 is ranked 24th. In terms of pace they are 26th in the league with 95.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 9th. As a team they are 8th 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 10th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.2 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 20th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Houston is 12th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.3 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 13th in the league. The Rockets are 1st in the NBA in offensive rating with 115.6, and their defensive rating of 104.6 is ranked 25th. In terms of pace they are 8th in the league with 99.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 56% is 2nd. As a team they are 2nd in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 52% of their shots, ranking 1st in the league.

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

Tony's Pick: Take Houston

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