Portland Blazers at Utah Jazz NBA Picks & Predictions 12/25/2018

Tuesday, December 25, 2018

Vivint Smart Home Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Portland Blazers travel to Vivint Smart Home Arena to play the Utah Jazz on Tuesday, December 25, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Utah as 4.5 point favorites.

The Blazers have a record of 19-14. They are 3rd in the Northwest Division. They have a point differential of 0.7 as they average 111.4 points per game while giving up 110.7 per contest. The Jazz have an overall record of 16-18 this season. They are 4th in the Northwest Division. They average 106.9 points per game and surrender 105.9, good for a point differential of 1.0.

Valuable Portland Blazers Betting Trends

The Portland Blazers are 16-16-0 against the spread

The Portland Blazers are 16-16-0 against the over/under

Important Utah Jazz Betting Trends

The Utah Jazz are 16-17-1 against the spread

The Utah Jazz are 17-17-0 against the over/under

Key Portland Blazers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Utah Jazz Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

CJ McCollum comes into this contest averaging 21.3 points per game while playing 34.1 minutes per night this season. He pulls down 3.8 rebounds per game and dishes out 2.6 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 47% while his free throw percentage currently sits at 83%. Damian Lillard averages 27.1 points per game in 35.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 5.9 assists per contest and 4.8 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 89%.

Player Spotlight

Donovan Mitchell averages 20.2 points per game while playing 32.4 minutes per contest this year. He grabs 3.5 rebounds per game and has 3.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is at 80%. Ricky Rubio averages 12.9 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 29.9 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.6 rebounds per contest and 6.4 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 40% and his free throw percentage is 85%.

Useful Team Statistics

Portland averages 111.4 points per contest this season, which ranks them 12th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 0.7 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 14th. Behind the arc they shoot 36% which is good for 11th in the league. They average 48.0 rebounds per game and 21.1 assists per game, which ranks them 3rd and 28th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 14th with 14.3 per game. The Blazers allow 110.7 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 16th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 38% average from behind the arc, ranking them 15th and 30th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 43.6 rebounds a game which ranks 9th and they give up 23.9 assists per contest, which puts them in 14th place in the league. They force 11.9 turnovers per game which ranks them 2nd in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Utah is 23rd in the league with 106.9 points per game this year. They are 13th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 1.0. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 25th in the NBA. They are 23rd in the league in rebounding with 43.6 boards per game, and 10th in assists per contest with 25.0. The Jazz are 3rd in turnovers per game with 15.4. The Jazz surrender 105.9 points per contest, which ranks them 6th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 19th and 20th in those defensive statistics. They rank 1st with 21.1 assists allowed per contest and 3rd with 42.5 rebounds surrendered per game. The Jazz are 23rd in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.1 per game.

Advanced Statistics

The Blazers are 10th in the league in defensive rating with 111.2, and their offensive rating of 111.9 is ranked 18th. They are 20th in the NBA in pace with 98.9 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 19th. As a unit they are 13th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shot attempts, ranking 17th in the NBA. Portland is 13th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 10.7 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 16th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Utah is 3rd in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.6 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 17th in the league. The Jazz are 24th in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.4, and their defensive rating of 106.4 is ranked 5th. In terms of pace they are 16th in the league with 99.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 14th. As a team they are 14th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 7th in the league.

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

Guy's Pick: Take Utah -4.5

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