Portland Blazers at Utah Jazz NBA Picks & Predictions 2/23/2018

Friday, February 23, 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 Friday, February 23, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Utah as 4.5 point favorites.

The Blazers head into this matchup with a mark of 32-26. They are 4th in the Northwest Division. They currently have a point differential of 1.1 as they are averaging 105.0 points per contest while giving up 103.9 per game. The Jazz have an overall mark of 30-28. They currently are 5th in the Northwest Division. They are averaging 103.5 points per contest and giving up 101.7, which is a point differential of 1.8.

Valuable Portland Blazers Betting Trends

The Portland Blazers are 28-27-3 against the spread

The Portland Blazers are 25-33-0 against the over/under

Important Utah Jazz Betting Trends

The Utah Jazz are 31-27-0 against the spread

The Utah Jazz are 28-29-1 against the over/under

Key Portland Blazers Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Utah Jazz Injuries

10/06/17 PG Dante Exum Shoulder is out indefinitely
02/14/18 PG Ricky Rubio Hip is "?" Friday vs Portland
01/13/18 F Thabo Sefolosha Knee is out for season

Player Spotlight

Damian Lillard comes into this contest averaging 26.1 points per game while playing 36.5 minutes per night so far this season for the Blazers. He pulls down 4.5 rebounds per game and dishes out 6.6 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is currently at 92%. C.J. McCollum averages 21.7 points per game in 36.1 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.2 assists per contest and 3.9 rebounds per game for Portland. His field goal percentage is 45% for the year while his free throw percentage is 86%.

Player Spotlight

Rudy Gobert averages 12.5 points per game while playing 31 minutes per contest this year for the Jazz. He grabs 10.1 rebounds per game and has 1.4 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 58% and his free throw percentage currently is at 69%. Donovan Mitchell averages 19.6 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 3.5 rebounds per contest and 3.5 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 44% and his free throw percentage is 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

Portland averages 105 points per contest this season, which ranks them 17th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 1.05 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 19th. Behind the arc they shoot 38% which is good for 3rd in the league. They average 44.9 rebounds per game and 19.1 assists per game, which ranks them 5th and 30th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 18th with 14 per game. The Blazers allow 103.9 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 9th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 37% average from behind the arc, ranking them 5th and 25th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.9 rebounds a game which ranks 15th and they give up 20.3 assists per contest, which puts them in 2nd place in the league. They force 12.6 turnovers per game which ranks them 2nd in the league.

Useful Team Statistics

Utah is 22nd in the league with 103.5 points per game this year. They are 17th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 1.81. They shoot 38% from 3-point range, which is good for 4th in the NBA. They are 21st in the league in rebounding with 42.1 boards per game, and 24th in assists per contest with 21.4. The Jazz are 15th in turnovers per game with 14.3. The Jazz surrender 101.7 points per contest, which ranks them 4th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 46% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 15th and 27th in those defensive statistics. They rank 3rd with 20.5 assists allowed per contest and 12th with 42.2 rebounds surrendered per game. The Jazz are 25th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.1 per game this season.

Advanced Statistics

The Blazers are 13th in the league in defensive rating with 107.3, and their offensive rating of 108.4 is ranked 21st. They are 18th in the NBA in pace with 96.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 51% is 20th. As a unit they are 16th in the league in true shooting percentage with 55% and they shoot 3-pointers on 31% of their shot attempts, ranking 21st in the NBA. Portland is 20th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 51%, which is 25th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Utah is 12th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.4 times per 100 possessions while forcing 14.2 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 17th in the NBA. The Jazz are 14th in the league in defensive rating with 106.2, and their offensive rating of 108.1 is ranked 26th. They are 25th in the NBA in pace with 95.4 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 12th. As a unit they are 12th 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 Blazers/Jazz NBA game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Portland +4.5

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