The New Orleans Pelicans (5-7) head to Salt Lake City Tuesday for the first game of a two-game set against the Utah Jazz (9-4) at Vivint Arena. Tip-off is set for 9 p.m. ET. Below, we analyze the Pelicans-Jazz NBA betting odds and lines, with picks and predictions.
The Pelicans held off the Sacramento Kings in a 128-123 road win Sunday to cover as 2.5-point favorites. New Orleans PF Zion Williamson was sensational vs. the Kings, scoring a team-high 31 points on 13-for-15 shooting with 6 rebounds. The victory ended a four-game losing skid for the Pelicans (0-4 against the spread).
Utah got a little regular-season revenge against the Denver Nuggets—who came back from down 3-1 to beat the Jazz in last season’s first-round playoffs series—by beating the Nuggets 109-105 as 1.5-point road favorites Sunday.
Jazz SG Jordan Clarkson came off the bench to turn the tide of the game by scoring a team-high 23 points against the Nuggets. It was a fifth straight win for the Jazz (5-0 ATS) and four of those came by double-digits.
Utah won the 2019-20 season series 3-1, but they split 2-2 ATS. Pelicans leading-scorer Brandon Ingram balled out last season vs. the Jazz, averaging 35 points on 48.4% field-goalshooting (41.4% from three) with 7 rebounds and 4 assists across their four meetings.
Pelicans at Jazz: Betting odds, spread and lines
Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 3 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Pelicans +195 (bet $100 to win $195) | Jazz -240 (bet $240 to win $100)
- Against the spread/ATS: Pelicans +6.5 (-120) | Jazz -6.5 (+100)
- Over/Under: 218.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
Pelicans at Jazz: Key Injuries
Pelicans
- PG Lonzo Ball (knee) probable
Jazz
- PF Derrick Favors (knee) probable
- SF Joe Ingles (Achilles) questionable
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Pelicans at Jazz: Odds, betting lines, predictions and picks
Prediction
Pelicans 109, Jazz 105
Money line (ML)
This is a good matchup for New Orleans so I lean PELICANS (+195) for a quarter-unit wager since I’ll be betting them plus the points. Pelicans C Steven Adams and Jazz C Rudy Gobert are very familiar and have battled a lot over the years.
Since 2016 (the start of Utah’s current four-year playoff streak), Adams’ former team (Oklahoma City Thunder) was 9-3 in the regular season vs. Gobert and the Jazz and their head-to-head numbers weren’t too dissimilar, according to LandOfBasketball.com.
Against the spread (ATS)
The major reason why I like PELICANS +6.5 (-120) for 1.25 units is that Ingram had his way with the Jazz in their four regular-season meetings last year. Furthermore, Ingram scored below his season average (23.3 points per game) in New Orleans’ previous four games so he is due for a strong outing.
Finally, I am a believer in Pelicans PG Lonzo Ball‘s importance to New Orleans. Ball has the second-highest on-off court rating in the Pelicans’ starting lineup and his presence helps their ball movement and ability to control the tempo. New Orleans, with a clean bill of health, should be able to at least keep this game within two possessions.
Over/Under (O/U)
If this game goes Over, I don’t like the Pelicans as much so I’ll lean UNDER 218.5 (-110) without making it an official play. The Jazz are the best 3-point shooting team in the league and if the Pelicans aren’t doing a good job of contesting Utah’s threes and this turns into a shootout, uh oh for New Orleans.
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