Rudy Gobert and the red-hot Utah Jazz will look to extend their winning ways when they hit the road to take on a New Orleans Pelicans team that is playing its best basketball of the season coming into this matchup. Now, with the Jazz looking for the big road win and the Pelicans looking to take care of business, let’s find out which team is offering the best value against their NBA odds.
Jazz vs Pelicans 2020 NBA Lines, Analysis & Betting Prediction
- When: Thursday January 16, 2020, 8:00 PM ET
- Where: Smoothie King Center, New Orleans, LA
- TV: AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain, FS New Orleans
- Radio: Utah / New Orleans
- Live Stream: NFL League Pass
- NBA Odds: Utah -4.5 / Total: 225.5
Why Bet On Utah?
There are a ton of great reasons to back the Jazz in this contest as a slight, road favorite. Utah has won 10 straight and 15 of their last 16 games overall including an emphatic 118-107 win over Brooklyn on Tuesday night. Joe Ingles scored a team-high 27 points while dishing out a team-high four assists in the win. Three other players also reached the 20-point plateau in the win, including center Rudy Gobert who put up 22 points and 18 rebounds and Donovan Mitchell who returned from a one-game absence to score 25 points.
“I think we’re getting contributions from a lot of guys,” Jazz coach Quin Snyder told reporters. “I thought Rudy was terrific. It was a dominant performance by him on both ends of the floor. Joe, obviously, was driving and making plays. … Donovan, especially late when we really needed to score, made a few really big moves to the rim and finished.”
While Utah ranks a modest 16th in scoring (109.7 ppg), the Jazz have an elite defense that limits the opposition to just 105.8 points per game to rank seventh in points allowed. Utah has gone 13-9 SU and 12-10 ATS on the road this season and now sit in second place in the Western Conference behind the Lakers.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Average Score For: 109.65
- Field Goals: 47.12%
- Three Points: 38.96%
- Free Throws: 76.94%
- Rebounds: 45.43
- Average Score Against: 105.78
- Field Goals: 44.26%
- Three Points: 33.95%
- Free Throws: 77.08%
- Rebounds: 43.53
Why Bet On New Orleans?
The Pelicans might be slight home dogs in this contest, but there are plenty of reasons to believe New Orleans can at least cover the chalk. The Pels have won three of their last four games including a 117-110 overtime win over Detroit on Monday.
New Orleans was without Derrick Favors, Brandon Ingram, Jrue Holiday and J.J. Redick, but they still managed to get the win as center Jahlil Okafor had a monster game with 25 points, 14 rebounds and Nicolo Melli added 20 points in the win.
“We talked about that right before we left the locker room,” head coach Alvin Gentry told reporters. “We said that over the course of the NBA season, you’re going to get an opportunity at some stage and the big question is will you take advantage of that opportunity when it’s there, and I thought everybody that we put in the game (did).”
New Orleans ranks a dismal 29th in points allowed (116.9 ppg), but the Pelicans also rank an encouraging ninth in scoring (113.2 ppg). The Pelicans are 7-12 SU and 10-9 ATS at home this season.
Team Statistics
Offense:- Average Score For: 113.20
- Field Goals: 44.93%
- Three Points: 36.66%
- Free Throws: 73.78%
- Rebounds: 45.98
- Average Score Against: 116.93
- Field Goals: 46.74%
- Three Points: 36.80%
- Free Throws: 79.17%
- Rebounds: 46.20
NBA Betting Trends for Jazz vs Pelicans
- Jazz are 10-1 ATS in the last 11 games
- Jazz are 10-0 SU in the last 10 games
- The total went OVER in 4 of Utah’s last 5 games
- Pelicans are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 games
- Pelicans are 8-3 SU in the last 11 games
- The total went OVER in 8 of New Orleans’ last 8 games
Jazz vs Pelicans Expert Analysis and Prediction
New Orleans might be playing well right now and they might be at home in this contest, but Utah is playing out of its collective minds and they are by far, the better defensive team in this matchup. The Pelicans got blown out by Boston just prior to beating Detroit the last time out and that loss shows the Pelicans aren’t quite ready to deal with elite, championship-hopeful title contenders. Utah has gone 9-3-1 ATS in the last 13 meetings against the Pelicans and 6-1 ATS in the last seven road dates against New Orleans. Simply put, back the red-hot jazz to get the win and ATS cover!
Pick: Utah 123 New Orleans 111
