Detroit Pistons vs. Utah Jazz Prediction, Preview, and Odds
This Wednesday night matchup features the Detroit Pistons (3-30 record, 13-20 ATS, 21-12 O/U) traveling to take on the Utah Jazz (15-19 record, 20-14 ATS, 18-15-1 O/U) at home. The Pistons finally won a game against the Raptors after a 28-game losing streak but went back to their losing ways with their 136-113 loss on the road against the Rockets. The Jazz on the other hand have won their past two games with their most recent being a 127-90 win at home against the Mavericks. Tip-off for this game is scheduled for 9:00 PM EST, live from the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Pistons Fail To Win Back-To-Back Games
Detroit lost to the Rockets 136-113 in their first game since the end of their 28-game losing streak. In the loss, Alec Burks came in off the bench and led the team in scoring with 21 points while Jalen Duren recorded a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds. Jaden Ivey also added another 19 points and six rebounds, but the team's struggles continued. As a team, they shot just 48.2% from the field but 44.8% from three, while allowing the Rockets to shoot 56% from the field and 42.9% from three. The difference in the game lay in the rebounds and the turnovers, with the Pistons being out-played in both categories as their record on the road has now fallen to 1-16. Overall, it was a tough loss for the Pistons as they continue to struggle to get wins this season.
The Pistons enter their upcoming game on the road against the Jazz as nine point underdogs given they have just three wins on the season, and only one win on the road. It is worth noting that Isaiah Stewart is out with a toe injury and Monte Morris is out with a quadricep injury, but these are the least of the Pistons' worries. For them to cover their spread and possibly win this game, they have to do a couple of things well. Primarily, they have to find some more consistency on offense. The Pistons rank 21st in field goal percentage and 28th in three point percentage. They have to find ways to get open looks and convert at a higher rate on their shot attempts. Similarly, on defense they have to contest perimeter shooters and force empty possessions. The Jazz's offense can struggle at times, so Detroit has to take advantage of their inconsistency on offense. If they can force some turnovers and empty possessions, they will have a much better chance of covering their spread this game.
Jazz Start Home Stretch Strong
Utah has one the first two games of their home stretch with the most recent being a 127-90 win over the Mavericks. In this game, Simone Fontecchio led the team in scoring with 24 points and six rebounds while Lauri Markkanen returned from injury and added another 17 points and four rebounds. Jordan Clarkson also recorded the first triple double for the Jazz since Carlos Boozer back in 2008 with 2o points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. As a team, they shot 51% from the field but just 27.3% from three while holding the Mavericks to 39.8% shooting from the field and 27.5% from three. The Mavericks lack of success shooting the ball was the main reason they lost by almost 40 points, but they were also out-rebounded and lost the turnover margin as well. Overall, this was a great win for the Jazz as every player got theirs and Jordan Clarkson made history.
The Jazz enter their upcoming game at home against the Pistons as nine-point favorites given the Pistons' struggles on the season. The Jazz do not have any injury designations ahead of this game, but they will have to play well if they want to win and cover their spread. The key for the Jazz in this game will be capitalizing on offense. The Pistons rank 26th in opposing field goal percentage and 25th in opposing three-point percentage. They allow opponents to shoot well above the league average, so the Jazz need to exploit them on offense. To build up the scoring differential needed for this spread, the Jazz must also force some turnovers on defense. Transition points will help them build and maintain a lead throughout, but also forcing empty possessions will help them considerably. If they can do these things, they will have a good chance of covering and winning.
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Best Bets
Full-Game Side Bet
Rating:
Taking the Jazz to cover their spread this game for a couple of reasons. This spread opened up at seven points and has since moved in favor of the Jazz to nine points, indicating sharp action on the Jazz. Their big men such as Lauri Markkanen, John Collins, and Walker Kessler should allow them to dominate the boards and get plenty of second-chance points on offense. The Jazz rank considerably higher in both defensive and offensive rebounding, so expect that to have an impact on the game. Also worth noting, the Pistons rank well below league average in both field goal and three-point percentage, meaning they should struggle on offense while the Jazz can capitalize on the other end. The Pistons rank 26th in opposing field goal percentage and 25th in opposing three-point percentage, so the Jazz should have no problems converting the majority of their shots on offense. The Jazz have covered in eight of their past 10 games overall, and have won eight of their past 10 matchups against the Pistons, including their only matchup so far this season. For these reasons, I am confident in taking the Jazz to cover their spread this game.
Utah Jazz -9
Prediction: Utah Jazz -9
Full-Game Total Pick
Rating:
Taking the over in this game for a couple of reasons. This total opened at 239 and has since moved up half a point, indicating sharp action on the over. When considering a side of the total in this game, it is important to consider the pace at which these teams play. According to dunksandthrees.com, the Pistons rank sixth in terms of overall pace while the Jazz rank 11th. Both teams rank above league average in terms of pace, meaning we can expect both teams to work quickly and for there to be more possessions than the average game. More possessions of course leads to more points. What also interests me is the fact that the Jazz rank 23rd in defensive rating while the Pistons rank 26th. To justify this further, the Jazz rank 19th in opposing field goal percentage and 20th in opposing three-point percentage while the Pistons rank 26th and 25th in those categories respectively. With both teams ranking highly in terms of pace and below league average in both opposing field goal and three-point shooting percentages, each team should convert more shot attempts than usual, and score plenty of points in the process. In terms of trends, the Pistons have gone over in eight of their past 10 games, including their past five consecutive games, while the Jazz have gone over in the majority of their games this season. For these reasons, I am confident in taking the over this game.
Over 239.5
Prediction: Over 239.5
I grew up a sports fanatic, playing and studying baseball, basketball, and football throughout highschool, and partially in college. That love for sports eventually transitioned to sports wagering, where I now spend my free time enjoying the fast paced environment that is sports wagering. I am currently enrolled in college, where I major in Mathematics and minor in Computer Science. Needless to say my knowledge of statistics and data analysis applies perfectly when sports wagering, and I value the data and statistics over "gut" or "feel" when making my predictions. With a complex understanding of odds and probability, I am able to detect value in game markets, and alert you to good value hidden within the bet. My knowledge and passion are shared throughout my breakdowns, in which we constantly uncover value, and more importantly, winners.
