Utah Jazz at Houston Rockets NBA Picks & Predictions 12/17/2018

Monday, December 17, 2018

Toyota Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Utah Jazz travel to Toyota Center to play the Houston Rockets on Monday, December 17, 2018. The opening line for this matchup has Houston as 5 point favorites.

The Jazz head into this matchup with a mark of 14-16. They are 4th in the Northwest Division. They have a point differential of 0.1 as they average 106.8 points per contest while giving up 106.6 per game. The Rockets have an overall mark of 14-14. They currently are 5th in the Southwest Division. They total 108.9 points per contest and give up 109.1, which is a point differential of -0.2.

Valuable Utah Jazz Betting Trends

The Utah Jazz are 14-16-0 against the spread

The Utah Jazz are 17-13-0 against the over/under

Important Houston Rockets Betting Trends

The Houston Rockets are 12-16-0 against the spread

The Houston Rockets are 15-12-0 against the over/under

Key Utah Jazz Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

12/11/18 SF James Ennis III Hamstring is out indefinitely
11/15/18 SF Carmelo Anthony Possible Trade is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Joe Ingles averages 12.0 points per game in 31.4 minutes per contest. He averages 4.6 assists per contest and 3.9 rebounds per game. His field goal percentage is 44% for the year while his free throw percentage is 67%. Donovan Mitchell comes into this contest averaging 20.9 points per game while playing 32.0 minutes per night. He pulls down 3.0 rebounds per game and dishes out 3.2 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 43% while his free throw percentage is at 83%.

Player Spotlight

Chris Paul averages 16.0 points per game and he sees the court an average of 34.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 4.3 rebounds per contest and 8.1 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 41% and his free throw percentage is 80%. James Harden averages 30.9 points per game while playing 36.1 minutes per contest. He grabs 5.8 rebounds per game and has 8.3 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 84%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Jazz allow 106.6 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 6th in the league. They also allow a 47% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 24th and 22nd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.2 rebounds a game which ranks 3rd, and they give up 21.5 assists per contest which puts them in 2nd place in the league. They force 15.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 23rd in the league. Utah averages 106.8 points per contest this season, which ranks them 23rd in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 0.1 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a team, which has them ranked 13th. Behind the arc they shoot 34% which is good for 25th in the league. They average 43.1 rebounds per game and 24.3 assists per contest, which ranks them 24th and 14th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 6th with 15.2 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Rockets surrender 109.1 points per contest, which ranks them 12th in the NBA. Their defense allows a 48% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 28th and 14th in those defensive statistics. They rank 1st with 21.5 assists allowed per contest, and 4th with 42.3 rebounds surrendered per game. The Rockets are 13th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.0 per game. Houston is 19th in the league with 108.9 points per game this year. They are 20th in the league in shooting at 45%, while their average scoring margin is -0.2. They shoot 34% from 3-point range, which is good for 24th in the NBA. They are 27th in the league in rebounding with 40.9 boards per game and 27th in assists per contest with 21.3. The Rockets are 20th in turnovers per game with 13.8.

Advanced Statistics

The Jazz are 23rd in the NBA in offensive rating with 107.6, and their defensive rating of 107.5 is ranked 8th. In terms of pace they are 20th in the league with 99.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 53% is 11th. As a team they are 12th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shots, ranking 8th in the league. Utah is 5th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.7 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 11th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Houston is 12th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.9 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 54%, which is 8th in the NBA. The Rockets are 5th in the league in defensive rating with 113.7, and their offensive rating of 113.5 is ranked 27th. They are 29th in the NBA in pace with 95.3 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 7th. As a unit they are 6th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 48% of their shot attempts, ranking 1st in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Houston -5

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