Houston Rockets at Utah Jazz NBA Picks & Predictions 2/26/2018

Monday, February 26, 2018

Vivint Smart Home Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Houston Rockets head to Vivint Smart Home Arena to take on the Utah Jazz on Monday, February 26, 2018. The opening line for this game has Houston as 5 point favorites.

The Rockets come into this game with an overall record of 45-13. They are 1st in the Southwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 8.9 as they are averaging 114.2 points per game while giving up 105.3 per contest. The Jazz have an overall mark of 31-29. They currently are 5th in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 103.0 points per contest and giving up 101.5, which is a point differential of 1.5.

Valuable Houston Rockets Betting Trends

The Houston Rockets are 29-28-1 against the spread

The Houston Rockets are 26-31-1 against the over/under

Important Utah Jazz Betting Trends

The Utah Jazz are 31-29-0 against the spread

The Utah Jazz are 28-31-1 against the over/under

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

02/24/18 G Eric Gordon Illness is downgraded to doubtful Sunday vs Denver

Key Utah Jazz Injuries

10/06/17 PG Dante Exum Shoulder is out indefinitely
01/13/18 F Thabo Sefolosha Knee is out for season

Player Spotlight

James Harden comes into this game averaging 31.3 points per contest while playing 35.7 minutes per night so far this year. He grabs 5 rebounds per contest and distributes 9 assists per game. His FG percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is 87%. Chris Paul averages 19.1 points per contest in 32 minutes per game this year. He averages 8.3 assists per game and 5.8 rebounds per contest for Houston. His field goal percentage is 47% for the season while his free throw percentage is 91%.

Player Spotlight

Rudy Gobert has scored 12.6 points per contest while playing 31.2 minutes per game this season for the Jazz. He hauls in 10.1 rebounds per contest and has 1.4 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 59% and his free throw percentage is at 68%. Donovan Mitchell averages 19.7 points per game this year and he's on the court an average of 32.3 minutes per game. He also brings in 3.5 rebounds per game and 3.5 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

Houston averages 114.2 points per contest this year, which is 2nd in the league. Their average scoring margin is 8.88 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a unit, which has them ranked 12th. From 3-point territory they shoot 37%, which is good for 12th in the NBA. They average 43.7 boards per contest and 21.9 assists per game, which ranks them 15th and 23rd in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 18th with 13.9 per game. The Rockets allow 105.3 points per contest which is 12th in the NBA. They also surrender a 47% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 20th and 11th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 41.4 rebounds a game which ranks 2nd, and they allow 23 assists per game which puts them in 13th place in the league. They force 14.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 16th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Utah is 25th in the NBA with 103 points per contest this season. They are 17th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 1.55. They shoot 37% from beyond the arc, which is good for 5th in the league. They are 21st in the NBA in rebounding with 42.2 boards per contest and 25th in assists per game with 21.4. The Jazz are 14th in turnovers per contest with 14.3. The Jazz give up 101.5 points per game, which ranks them 3rd in the league. Their defense is surrendering a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 15th and 25th in those defensive statistics. They rank 3rd with 20.4 dimes allowed per game and 12th with 42.2 boards surrendered per contest. The Jazz are 23rd in the league in forcing turnovers with 15 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Rockets are 1st in the league in defensive rating with 106.9, and their offensive rating of 116 is ranked 22nd. They are 11th in the NBA in pace with 98.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 56% is 2nd. As a unit they are 2nd in the league in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 51% of their shot attempts, ranking 1st in the NBA. Houston is 20th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 53%, which is 12th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Utah is 12th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.5 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.1 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 18th in the NBA. The Jazz are 17th in the league in defensive rating with 106, and their offensive rating of 107.6 is ranked 26th. They are 26th in the NBA in pace with 95.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 14th. As a unit they are 13th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 10th in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Utah +5

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