Utah Jazz at Oklahoma City Thunder NBA Picks & Predictions 12/20/2017

Wednesday, December 20, 2017

Chesapeake Energy Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Utah Jazz head to Chesapeake Energy Arena to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, December 20, 2017. The opening line for this game has Oklahoma City as 5 point favorites.

The Jazz come into this game with an overall record of 14-17. They are 5th in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 2.1 as they are averaging 102.9 points per game while giving up 100.8 per contest. The Thunder have an overall record of 15-15. They currently are 4th in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 101.9 points per game and surrendering 100.2, good for a point differential of 1.7.

Valuable Utah Jazz Betting Trends

The Utah Jazz are 17-14-0 against the spread

The Utah Jazz are 16-14-1 against the over/under

Important Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Trends

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 9-20-1 against the spread

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 12-18-0 against the over/under

Key Utah Jazz Injuries

12/18/17 F Derrick Favors Head is "?" Wednesday vs Oklahoma City
12/18/17 PG Raul Neto Concussion is "?" Wednesday vs Oklahoma City
12/16/17 C Rudy Gobert Ankle is out indefinitely
10/06/17 PG Dante Exum Shoulder is out indefinitely

Key Oklahoma City Thunder Injuries

12/18/17 C Steven Adams Concussion is "?" Wednesday vs Utah

Player Spotlight

Rodney Hood comes into this game averaging 17.6 points per contest while playing 28.3 minutes per night so far this year. He grabs 2.6 rebounds per contest and distributes 2 assists per game. His FG percentage is 43% while his free throw percentage is 88%. Donovan Mitchell averages 17.7 points per contest in 30.1 minutes per game this year. He averages 3.4 assists per game and 3 rebounds per contest for Utah. His field goal percentage is 43% for the season while his free throw percentage is 84%.

Player Spotlight

Russell Westbrook has scored 23.3 points per contest while playing 36.5 minutes per game this season for the Thunder. He hauls in 9.6 rebounds per contest and has 9.8 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage is at 70%. Paul George averages 19.9 points per game this year and he's on the court an average of 37.2 minutes per game. He also brings in 5.7 rebounds per game and 3.1 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage is 81%.

Useful Team Statistics

Utah averages 102.9 points per contest this year, which is 22nd in the league. Their average scoring margin is 2.06 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a unit, which has them ranked 15th. From 3-point territory they shoot 39%, which is good for 3rd in the NBA. They average 40.4 boards per contest and 21.7 assists per game, which ranks them 26th and 21st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 18th with 14.6 per game. The Jazz allow 100.8 points per contest which is 5th in the NBA. They also surrender a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 14th and 23rd in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 43.2 rebounds a game which ranks 17th, and they allow 19.4 assists per game which puts them in 2nd place in the league. They force 16.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 27th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Oklahoma City is 24th in the NBA with 101.9 points per contest this season. They are 29th in the league in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is 1.67. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc, which is good for 26th in the league. They are 13th in the NBA in rebounding with 44.1 boards per contest and 25th in assists per game with 20.7. The Thunder are 16th in turnovers per contest with 14.9. The Thunder give up 100.2 points per game, which ranks them 3rd in the league. Their defense is surrendering a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 10th and 13th in those defensive statistics. They rank 9th with 21.6 dimes allowed per game and 9th with 42.1 boards surrendered per contest. The Thunder are 30th in the league in forcing turnovers with 17.7 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Jazz are 13th in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.6, and their defensive rating of 105.5 is ranked 23rd. In terms of pace they are 27th in the league with 95.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 10th. As a team they are 8th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 8th in the league. Utah is 15th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 15.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 18th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Oklahoma City is 20th in the NBA 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 17th in the league. The Thunder are 22nd in the NBA in offensive rating with 105.4, and their defensive rating of 103.7 is ranked 29th. In terms of pace they are 26th in the league with 95.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 49% is 28th. 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 16th in the league.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Utah +5

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