Utah Jazz vs. Chicago Bulls - 1/2/20 NBA Picks, Odds, and Prediction

Game: Utah Jazz vs Chicago Bulls

Date: Thursday, January 2, 2020

Location: United Center in Chicago, IL

TV: NBC Sports Chicago

Odds/Point Spread: Utah -3.5

Total/Over-Under: 212

Bojan Bogdanovic and the Utah Jazz (21-12, 2nd in the Northwest Division) are headed to United Center on Thursday where they'll meet the Chicago Bulls (13-21, 3rd in the Central Division). The line on this game has Utah as 3.5 point favorites. The over/under is set at 212.

The Jazz are covering the spread 48.5% of the time, having gone 16-17-0 ATS. Chicago covers the spread 52.9% of the time, going 18-16-0 against the spread.

Key Utah Jazz Injuries

12/27/2020 Mike Conley PG Hamstring Expected to be out until at least Jan 10

Key Chicago Bulls Injuries

12/31/2020 Chandler Hutchison SF Shoulder Game Time Decision
12/27/2020 Jr SF Foot Expected to be out until at least Feb 11
12/23/2020 Max Strus SG Knee Out for the season

Player Spotlight

Donovan Mitchell averages 25.2 points per contest in 34.9 minutes per game this year. He averages 4.2 assists per game and 4.6 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 46% for the season while his free throw percentage is 84%. Bojan Bogdanovic comes into this game averaging 20.7 points per contest while playing 33.7 minutes per night. He grabs 4.5 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.2 assists per game. His FG percentage is 44% while his free throw percentage is 88%.

Player Spotlight

Lauri Markkanen averages 15.1 points per game and he sees the court an average of 30.1 minutes per game. He also hauls in 6.6 rebounds per game and dishes 1.6 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is 82%. Zach Lavine scores 23.4 points per contest while playing 33.3 minutes per game. He hauls in 4.6 rebounds per contest and has 3.9 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 43% and his free throw percentage is at 83%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Jazz allow 105.8 points per contest which is 7th in the NBA. They also surrender a 44% shooting percentage and a 34% average from 3-point range, ranking them 8th and 10th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 43.8 rebounds a game which ranks 7th, and they allow 20.4 assists per game which puts them in 1st place in the league. They force 13.0 turnovers per game which ranks them 2nd in the NBA. Utah averages 108.0 points per contest, which is 22nd in the league. Their average scoring margin is 2.2 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a unit, which has them ranked 10th. From 3-point territory they shoot 39%, which is good for 1st in the NBA. They average 45.6 boards per contest and 21.6 assists per game, which ranks them 14th and 25th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 4th with 16.0 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Bulls give up 107.0 points per game, which ranks them 10th in the league. Their defense surrenders a 45% shooting percentage and a 33% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 13th and 4th in those defensive statistics. They rank 16th with 24.1 dimes allowed per game and 28th with 47.5 boards surrendered per contest. The Bulls are 30th in the league in forcing turnovers with 18.4 per contest. Chicago is 25th in the NBA with 105.9 points per contest this season. They are 28th in the league in shooting at 43%, while their average scoring margin is -1.1. They shoot 36% from beyond the arc, which is good for 15th in the league. They are 22nd in the NBA in rebounding with 43.9 boards per contest and 20th in assists per game with 23.1. The Bulls are 10th in turnovers per contest with 15.6.

Advanced Statistics

The Jazz are 18th in the league in defensive rating with 106.1, and their offensive rating of 108.3 is ranked 10th. They are 17th in the NBA in pace with 99.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 54% is 6th. As a unit they are 5th in the league in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 16th in the NBA. Utah is 3rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.6 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11.6 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 50%, which is 27th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Chicago is 8th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 16.1 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 16th in the league. The Bulls are 28th in the NBA in offensive rating with 104.5, and their defensive rating of 105.5 is ranked 7th. In terms of pace they are 13th in the league with 100.8 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 26th. As a team they are 27th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 54% and they shoot 3-pointers on 40% of their shots, ranking 9th in the league.

So what is Tonights Parlay prediction?

Parlays Pundit's Pick: Take Chicago +3.5 and over 212 total points

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