Portland Blazers vs. Utah Jazz - 12/26/19 NBA Picks, Odds, and Prediction

Game: Portland Trail Blazers vs Utah Jazz

Date: Thursday, December 26, 2019

Location: Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, UT

TV: TNT

Odds/Point Spread: Utah -6

Total/Over-Under: 219.5

Vivint Smart Home Arena is the site where Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz (18-12, 2nd in the Northwest Division) will play the Portland Trail Blazers (14-17, 4th in the Northwest Division) on Thursday. Portland opens this contest as 6 point underdogs. The over/under has been set at 219.5.

The Blazers cover the spread 44.8% of the time, having gone 13-16-2 ATS. Utah is covering the spread 43.3% of the time, going 13-17-0 against the spread.

Key Portland Trail Blazers Injuries

12/9/2019 Jusuf Nurkic C Lower Leg Expected to be out until at least Feb 15
12/7/2019 Rodney Hood SG Achilles Out for the season
11/12/2019 Zach Collins PF Shoulder Expected to be out until at least Mar 15

Key Utah Jazz Injuries

12/23/2019 Jordan Clarkson PG Not Injury Related Game Time Decision
12/18/2019 Mike Conley PG Hamstring Expected to be out until at least Dec 30

Player Spotlight

CJ McCollum comes into this game averaging 22.4 points per contest while playing 36.5 minutes per night this year. He grabs 4.5 rebounds per contest and distributes 3.7 assists per game. His FG percentage is 45% while his free throw percentage is 81%. Damian Lillard averages 26.6 points per contest in 36.7 minutes per game. He averages 7.5 assists per game and 4.2 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% for the season while his free throw percentage is 90%.

Player Spotlight

Donovan Mitchell scores 24.8 points per contest while playing 34.9 minutes per game. He hauls in 4.6 rebounds per contest and has 4.0 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 84%. Bojan Bogdanovic averages 21.1 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 33.5 minutes per game. He also brings in 4.5 rebounds per game and has 2.2 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 89%.

Useful Team Statistics

Portland averages 112.2 points per contest, which is 11th in the league. Their average scoring margin is -0.9 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a unit, which has them ranked 19th. From 3-point territory they shoot 36%, which is good for 14th in the NBA. They average 46.7 boards per contest and 19.9 assists per game, which ranks them 6th and 30th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 26th with 13.7 per game. The Blazers allow 113.0 points per contest, which is 20th in the NBA. They also surrender a 44% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 7th and 14th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 48.2 rebounds a game which ranks 29th, and they allow 22.9 assists per game which puts them in 8th place in the league. They force 13.4 turnovers per game which ranks them 6th in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Utah is 23rd in the NBA with 107.3 points per contest this season. They are 13th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 1.03. They shoot 39% from beyond the arc, which is good for 2nd in the league. They are 13th in the NBA in rebounding with 45.7 boards per contest and 27th in assists per game with 21.5. The Jazz are 3rd in turnovers per contest with 16.3. The Jazz give up 106.3 points per game, which ranks them 7th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 12th and 10th in those defensive statistics. They rank 1st with 20.7 dimes allowed per game and 7th with 43.8 boards surrendered per contest. The Jazz are 3rd in the league in forcing turnovers with 13.0 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Blazers are 12th in the league in defensive rating with 110.6, and their offensive rating of 109.8 is ranked 17th. They are 11th in the NBA in pace with 101.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 52% is 21st. As a unit they are 17th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 37% of their shot attempts, ranking 19th in the NBA. Portland is 28th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.5 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 22nd in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Utah is 2nd in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.8 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 23rd in the NBA. The Jazz are 21st in the league in defensive rating with 106.1, and their offensive rating of 107.2 is ranked 10th. They are 16th in the NBA in pace with 100.1 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 10th. As a unit they are 9th in the league in true shooting percentage with 57% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 16th in the NBA.

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

Josh's Pick: Take Utah -6

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