Utah Jazz vs New Orleans Pelicans Prediction: Red-hot Pels can take down the cooled-down Jazz

The NBA has brought to us numerous occasions when our mouths are wide-open with excitement level. Many times records are deceptive and a team with a 20% win percentage can take down a giant that has won over 60% of their games, such is the nature of one of the most unpredictable leagues. It is all about momentum but momentum is such an arbitrary concept when each team has to play 82 games. One of the teams with momentum is the New Orleans Pelicans and they will take on the Utah Jazz here.

The Jazz enters this game after suffering a 110:115 loss against the Denver Nuggets despite a 27 points performance by Nickeill Alexander-Walker. They have now lost three of their last four games and are currently with just 15 wins and 14 losses. This is a big slide from when they were with 10 wins and three losses and basically they have lost 11 out of their last 16 games. This is how they were expected to begin the season but things have finally taken place as expected. One of the main culprits for their poor returns lately has been their inability to finish games and they have lost many games by a single digit margin.

The Jazz was earlier among the top teams in the three-pointers made and assists but have fallen in both categories. Defensively, they were a so-so team even when they were winning but lately, they have struggled even more and because the offense hasn’t been as high yielding, their record has taken a big dent. Because they lack an experienced big, they have given a ton of points in the paint and even after having the best defense in terms of limiting an opponent’s three points make(10.6 per game), they have taken big hits. They have a deep guard depth and Forward Lauri Markkanen is having a breakout season, but they have been outhustled way too often these days.

The Pelicans enter the game after another impressive win against the Phoenix Suns as they beat them 129:124 in Overtime behind another 30+ points performance by Zion Williamson. They are on a seven-game winning streak and have improved to 18 wins and eleven losses. During five of the six games that the Pels have won, Zion has scored in the 29-35 points range while dominating the other aspects of the game too. The Pelicans have done all this winning in the absence of Brandon Ingram which makes it more special.

CJ McCollum has return to form and after a cold spell has had some impressive offensive games. In terms of defense, the Pels hold their opponents below 34% from beyond the three-point line and are second best in that regard. They are top ten in terms of limiting opponents’ field goal percentage. In terms of offense, they are number one in field goals made and fifth best in field goal percentage. A deep bench, a flexible coach, and an improving squad is the hallmark of this team thus far.

• Jazz: OUT: Colin Sexton, Simone Fontecchio;
• Pelicans: OUT: Brandon Ingram. EJ Liddell. PROBABLE: Herbert Jones.

• Expected Leading Scorers: Zion Williamson(27+ Points), Jordan Clarkson(22+ Points);
• Expected Leading Rebounders: Jonas Valanciunas(10-13 Rebounds), Walker Kessler(8-11 Rebounds);
• Expected Leading Playmakers: CJ McCollum(6-8 Assists), Jordan Clarkson(5-8 Assists).

The Pelicans have been an outstanding squad lately and their ability to get hold of both ends has been huge in multiple ways. The Jazz has been not playing well and they have been struggling in multiple areas. The Jazz’s defense can crumble in the face of the fret train named Zion Williamson whose ability to employ a lot of power has been huge. That is why I back the Pels to winning here. I predict a scoreline of 122:113 in favor of the Pelicans.