New Orleans Pelicans vs Utah Jazz Prediction, 1/21/2021 NBA Pick, Tips and Odds

Game: New Orleans Pelicans vs Utah Jazz

Date: Thursday, January 21, 2021

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

TV: TNT

Odds/Point Spread: New Orleans (+6.5)

The Utah Jazz (10-4) host the New Orleans Pelicans (5-8) at Vivint Smart Home Arena on Thursday. New Orleans opens this contest as 6.5-point underdogs. The over/under has been set at 216.5.

The New Orleans Pelicans stepped onto the hardwood against the Jazz and went home with a loss by a final score of 118-102 in their last game. New Orleans ended the contest with a 45.3% FG percentage (43 out of 95) and converted 6 of their 26 three-point attempts. From the charity stripe, the Pelicans made 10 of 15 attempts for a percentage of 66.7%. In reference to hauling in boards, they collected 38 with 10 of them being on the offensive end. They also doled out 17 assists for the matchup while earning 8 steals and 3 blocks. In regard to defending, New Orleans let their opponent shoot 50.6% from the floor on 43 out of 85 shooting. Utah distributed 28 dimes and had 4 steals for the game. On top of that, the Jazz grabbed 54 boards (11 offensive, 43 defensive) and earned 7 blocks. Utah went 64.7% at the charity stripe by burying 11 of 17 attempts. They converted 21 of their 47 attempts from 3-point range.

Zion Williamson is one player who was important in the game. He walked away with 32 points on 14 of 19 shooting. He played 35:22 minutes played and totaled 5 boards. Williamson finished shooting 73.7% from the floor and also totaled 3 dimes. Another guy that came through in the game for the Pelicans was Brandon Ingram. He snagged 3 rebounds and collected 4 dimes. He shot 44.4% from the floor for this contest by connecting on 8-of-18 (17 points). When this game wrapped up, Ingram was on the court for 35:19 min.

New Orleans heads into this matchup with a record of 5-8 on the season. They have an average of 107.3 points per game (25th in the NBA) while connecting on 46.4% from the floor. The Pelicans are hitting 32.7% from downtown (128 of 391) and 71.5% from the charity stripe. As a unit, New Orleans is grabbing 47.5 boards per game and has accounted for 291 dimes so far this year, which is 25th in the league in terms of passing the rock. They lose possession by turning the ball over 15.6 times per contest and as a basketball team they are committing 17.4 fouls per contest. On the defensive end, the Pelicans are forcing 14.0 turnovers per contest and they draw 21.2 fouls. They are currently ranked 22nd in the NBA in giving up assists with 351 relinquished so far this year. The Pelicans are giving up a FG percentage of 45.5% (182 of 275) and they concede 40.9 boards per contest as a squad. They give up 37.8% on 3-pointers and they are 11th in the league in PPG from their opponents (109.5).

In their win against New Orleans, the Jazz pulled down 43 defensive rebounds and 11 offensive boards totaling 54 in this game. They also rejected 7 tries while earning 4 steals in the game. The Pelicans were called for 15 personal fouls for this game which took the Jazz to the free throw line for 17 attempts. They were able to bury 11 of the free throw attempts for a rate of 64.7%. Concerning shots from 3-point land, Utah converted 21 out of their 47 attempts (44.7%). When the final whistle blew, the Jazz finished shooting 43 out of 85 from the floor which gave them a rate of 50.6%. The Jazz allowed the Pelicans to knock down 43 of 95 attempts from the field which left them shooting 45.3% in the game. They finished 23.1% from 3-point land via 6 out of 26 and finished the contest at 10 out of 15 from the free throw line (66.7%). In regard to rebounding, Utah permitted New Orleans to snag 38 in total (10 on the offensive glass).

Donovan Mitchell was important for the Jazz in the matchup. He buried 9 of 15 in the matchup for a rate of 60.0%, which had him sitting at 28 points. Mitchell grabbed 7 boards in his 33:24 mins of time on the court and earned 4 dimes for the contest. An additional guy who was a determining factor for Utah was Jordan Clarkson. He ended up with 18 points in 29:26 mins on the court by going 6 of 15 shooting for the matchup. Clarkson wrapped this one up going 40.0% from the field in addition to earning 6 dimes and 6 boards.

Utah has a mark of 10-4 for the campaign. Utah has tallied 1,555 points this season (111.1 per contest) and they grab 49.6 boards per game. The Jazz commit 17.7 personal fouls per contest and they shoot 68.4% from the free throw line. On the offensive side of the ball, the Jazz are shooting 46.5% from the floor, which has them ranked 14th in the NBA. Their rate of assisting teammates is at 23.3 times per contest (22nd in the NBA) and they turn it over 15.5 times per contest. The Jazz on defense are ranked 4th in the league in PPG surrendered with 105.1. They are forcing their opponents into 11.3 TO's every game and have allowed teams to shoot 43.7% from the field (4th in the league). The Utah defense gives up 34.3% from downtown (154 of 449) and opponents are connecting on 75.9% of their shots from the charity stripe. They surrender 22.2 assists and 42.9 boards every game, which ranks 1st and 8th in basketball.

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

Guy Bruhn's Pick: Take Utah (-6.5)

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