New Orleans Pelicans at Utah Jazz NBA Picks & Predictions 1/3/2018

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Vivint Smart Home Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The New Orleans Pelicans travel to Vivint Smart Home Arena to play the Utah Jazz on Wednesday, January 3, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Utah as 2.5 point favorites.

The Pelicans come into this game with an overall record of 18-18. They are 3rd in the Southwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 0.0 as they are averaging 111.2 points per game while giving up 111.2 per contest. The Jazz have an overall mark of 16-21. They currently are 5th in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 101.2 points per contest and giving up 101.6, which is a point differential of -0.4.

Valuable New Orleans Pelicans Betting Trends

The New Orleans Pelicans are 20-16-0 against the spread

The New Orleans Pelicans are 22-14-0 against the over/un=DEr

Important Utah Jazz Betting Trends

The Utah Jazz are 19-18-0 against the spread

The Utah Jazz are 17-19-1 against the over/un=DEr

Key New Orleans Pelicans Injuries

12/12/17 G Tony Allen Knee is out indefinitely
10/20/17 C Alexis Ajinca Knee is out indefinitely
10/14/17 F Solomon Hill Hamstring is out indefinitely

Key Utah Jazz Injuries

12/26/17 PG Raul Neto Concussion is out indefinitely
12/16/17 C Rudy Gobert Ankle is out indefinitely
10/06/17 PG Dante Exum Shoulder is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Jrue Holiday averages 18.1 points per game in 36.5 minutes per contest this season. He averages 5.2 assists per contest and 4.2 rebounds per game for New Orleans. His field goal percentage is 49% for the year while his free throw percentage is 83%. Demarcus Cousins comes into this contest averaging 26.2 points per game while playing 35.5 minutes per night so far this season for the Pelicans. He pulls down 12.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 5.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage is currently at 75%.

Player Spotlight

Donovan Mitchell averages 18.2 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 30.7 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.2 rebounds per contest and 3.4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 85%. Rodney Hood averages 17.5 points per game while playing 28.6 minutes per contest this year for the Jazz. He grabs 2.6 rebounds per game and has 1.7 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage currently is at 86%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Pelicans allow 111.2 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 28th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 38% average from behind the arc, ranking them 21st and 25th in those =DEfensive categories. Opponents average 43.5 rebounds a game which ranks 18th, and they give up 24 assists per contest which puts them in 23rd place in the league. They force 14.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 14th in the league. New Orleans averages 111.2 points per contest this season, which ranks them 3rd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -0.06 and their shooting percentage is 49% as a team, which has them ranked 2nd. Behind the arc they shoot 38% which is good for 6th in the league. They average 42.8 rebounds per game and 26.7 assists per game, which ranks them 17th and 2nd in those offensive categories. In the turnover =DEpartment they rank 4th with 15.8 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Jazz surren=DEr 101.6 points per contest, which ranks them 6th in the NBA. Their =DEfense is allowing a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 18th and 24th in those =DEfensive statistics. They rank 2nd with 19.9 assists allowed per contest, and 20th with 43.6 rebounds surren=DEred per game. The Jazz are 26th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.6 per game this season. Utah is 25th in the league with 101.2 points per game this year. They are 22nd in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is -0.35. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 9th in the NBA. They are 26th in the league in rebounding with 40.5 boards per game and 22nd in assists per contest with 21.2. The Jazz are 17th in turnovers per game with 14.4.

Advanced Statistics

The Pelicans are 6th in the NBA in offensive rating with 110.4, and their defensive rating of 110.4 is ranked 6th. In terms of pace they are 6th in the league with 99.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 56% is 3rd. As a team they are 4th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shots, ranking 12th in the league. New Orleans is 4th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.3 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.9 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 8th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Utah is 12th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 13th in the league. The Jazz are 19th in the NBA in offensive rating with 106.3, and their defensive rating of 106.7 is ranked 22nd. In terms of pace they are 27th in the league with 94.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 52% is 17th. As a team they are 15th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 36% of their shots, ranking 8th in the league.

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

Tony's Pick: Take New Orleans +2.5

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