Utah Jazz vs New Orleans Pelicans Betting Pick & Prediction 1/17/25
At 8:00 ET, the Pelicans (-654) will host the Jazz (+470) at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The Pelicans are favored by 11.5, and the over/under line is set at 230.5.
Utah is 14th in the West with a 10-29 record, while New Orleans is 15th at 10-32. The Pelicans have won two straight games.
UTAH JAZZ VS NEW ORLEANS PELICANS BETTING PICK
The Pick: New Orleans Pelicans -11.5
This game will be played at Smoothie King Center at 8:00 ET on Friday, January 17th.
WHY BET THE NEW ORLEANS PELICANS:
- We have this one finishing with a projected score of 135-68 in favor of the Pelicans.
- Our projections have Zion Williamson finishing with 23 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists.
- From the field, we have the Pelicans finishing with a field goal percentage of 45.5% and knocking down 15 threes.
Will the Jazz Win on the Road?
The Jazz dropped to 10-29 on the season after a 117-112 loss to the Hornets on Wednesday. Utah, who were +5.5 point underdogs, managed to cover the spread at home. The combined score of 229 points went over the pre-game total of 221.5.
Utah went on an 11-0 run early, moving the score from 20-17 to 28-20. They led 87-80 going into the 4th quarter but were outscored 37-25 in the final period.
Keyonte George led the Jazz with 26 points, 5 threes, and 6 assists in their 117-112 loss to the Hornets. He shot 40.9% from the field and 38.5% from deep. Brice Sensabaugh added 19 points, and Walker Kessler contributed 11 points and 8 rebounds, hitting 71.4% of his shots.
Utah connected on 16 threes, shooting 37.2% from beyond the arc and 46.2% overall. George scored 10 points in the 3rd quarter, while Sensabaugh had 12 in the 1st. Patty Mills, Drew Eubanks, Walker Kessler, and Isaiah Collier each chipped in 11 points.
Defensively, the Jazz held the Hornets to 26 points in the 1st quarter and 25 in the 3rd, but a 37-point 4th quarter from Charlotte proved costly. Overall, Utah allowed 117 points on 52% shooting.
The Jazz did well in limiting Charlotte’s three-point shooting, holding them to 12 made threes on 30% shooting. Utah also sent the Hornets to the line 21 times, where they made 15 free throws.
Will the New Orleans Defense Show Up at Home?
With a 119-116 win over the Mavericks on Wednesday, the Pelicans improved to 10-32 for the season. Playing at home, New Orleans entered the game as -1.5 point favorites and covered the spread with the victory.
New Orleans took a 33-27 lead after the 1st quarter, but Dallas fought back to lead 91-87 heading into the 4th. The Pelicans responded by outscoring the Mavericks 32-25 in the final quarter. The game’s total of 235 points exceeded the O/U line of 221.5 by 13.5 points.
Dejounte Murray led the Pelicans with 30 points and 7 assists in their win over the Mavericks, hitting 4 threes at a 40% rate. Trey Murphy added 24 points and 10 rebounds, though he shot just 38.9% from the field.
Javonte Green contributed 13 points, knocking down 3 threes at 60%. Murray scored 13 points in the 4th quarter, while Green added 6. The Pelicans made 13 threes as a team, shooting 33.3% from deep and 44.3% overall.
The Pelicans gave up 116 points to the Mavericks but tightened up defensively in the 4th quarter, allowing just 25 points to help secure the win. Overall, New Orleans allowed Dallas to shoot 47% from the field.
From beyond the arc, the Mavericks hit 12 threes at a 34% clip. The Pelicans sent Dallas to the line 25 times, where they made 18 free throws. Defensively, New Orleans recorded 11 steals and 8 blocks.