Pelicans vs Jazz Picks, Predictions & Odds Tonight

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25 November 2023

Pelicans vs Jazz Picks, Predictions & Odds Tonight

The Pelicans have been streaking of late, with Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram both clicking. Can the lowly Jazz put up a fight? Read our NBA picks for tonight's game to find out.

Photo By - USA TODAY Sports

The New Orleans Pelicans will look to pick up their fourth straight when they head to Delta Center as slim NBA odds favorites to take on the Utah Jazz, who have dropped four consecutive contests.

Zion Williamson has led New Orleans in scoring in each of the last two wins and will look to keep his hot streak going against a Utah team that gives up buckets in bunches.

Find out if Williamson and co. can continue their run in our Pelicans vs. Jazz NBA picks and predictions for Saturday, November 25.

Pelicans vs Jazz odds

Pelicans vs Jazz predictions

The Pelicans cruised to a third straight victory on Friday night against the Clippers with a 116-106 win as Zion Williamson scored a season-high 32 points while Brandon Ingram dropped 30 of his own. The pair combined for 25 makes from the field on 46 attempts — more than half of New Orleans’ production in the game.

Ingram and Williamson have both hit their stride this month, with one or the other leading the Pelicans in scoring in nine straight games. The duo has helped New Orleans average 121.3 points over the last six contests while going 5-1 over that span. With CJ McCollum still sidelined, it’ll be up to Ingram and Williamson to keep leading the charge offensively.

That shouldn’t be too tall of a task tonight as the Pelicans take on the Jazz, who are allowing 122.5 points per game this season — the fifth-worst mark in the NBA. Utah limps into this contest on a four-game losing streak, giving up 130.8 points per game during that stretch and at least 130 points in three of those outings.

Opponents are scoring just under 50% of their field goal attempts against the Jazz, tied for the fourth-highest rate in the league, while their defensive rating (119.4) is also fourth-worst.

The Pelicans may be down a key player in McCollum but they should still have enough firepower in Williamson and Ingram to run up the score and cash the Over tonight.

My best bet: Pelicans team total Over 116.5 (-110 at DraftKings)

Pelicans vs Jazz same-game parlay

Pelicans team total Over 116.5

Pelicans -2

Under 232

While we look for the Pelicans to cash the Over on 116.5 points, we’ll also look for them to win the game by at least two points –—a relatively safe ask of a hot New Orleans squad coming up against one of the worst teams in the Western Conference.

The Jazz could also be without top scorer Lauri Markkanen, who’s questionable with a hamstring injury. The power forward is averaging 23.7 points per game this season — five more than anyone else on Utah — so his absence could put a big dent in the Jazz offense.

I’ll round out the same-game parlay by taking the Under on 232.5 points. With each team potentially missing a key scorer in McCollum and Markkanen, we should naturally see less offense from both sides, which could make for a slightly lower-scoring contest.

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Pelicans vs Jazz spread and Over/Under analysis

The Pelicans come into this contest with a much better record than the Jazz, but surprisingly opened as just the 1-point favorite with the total opening at 231.5 points. I think the visitors should be able to push their win streak to four, while I also like the Under tonight.

Utah is giving up points in bunches but their offense has also slowed down dramatically over the last two games, scoring 105 and 99 points, respectively, in those outings while also cashing the Under both times. If Markkanen is indeed out, Utah’s offense will likely continue to sputter.

Meanwhile, the Pelicans have been scoring at a solid clip during their three-game run yet have cashed the Under themselves in three straight and four of their last five, largely by virtue of improved defense. New Orleans has given up just 108.2 points per game over that span — if that trend continues, the Under likely cashes.

The Pelicans have faced some bumps to start the season with a 9-7 record, but they’ve been hot over the past week and should have a sizable edge over the 4-11 Jazz, so I’m a little surprised by their 1-point spread heading into this matchup.

I don’t think Utah has a duo nearly as dynamic as Ingram and Williamson, who have both been consistently scoring about 25 points per game, and that issue will only be exacerbated for the Jazz if Markkanen sits. Combine a hot Pelicans offense with a very leaky Jazz defense, and we should see the visitors take a comfortable win tonight.