NFL Previews 
MLB Previews 
NBA Previews 
NHL Previews 
Soccer Previews 
New Orleans Pelicans vs Utah Jazz Games Preview
New Orleans is still buried in the West standings, but the form has improved, and the lineup changes are starting to matter. The Pelicans took this matchup in Salt Lake City on Thursday behind Saddiq Bey’s breakout night and a strong second-quarter push that flipped the game.
This rematch comes with a key wrinkle: Dejounte Murray is expected to sit, and Trey Murphy III remains out. Utah is also short-handed, with Lauri Markkanen sidelined and Keyonte George still in the questionable bucket.
Smart NBA picks start here.
Let the numbers guide your bets.
New Orleans Pelicans vs Utah Jazz Odds
Track movement and alternate lines on the latest NBA odds page.
| Team | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Pelicans | -260 | -6.5 (-110) | O 244.5 (-118) |
| Utah Jazz | +215 | +6.5 (-110) | U 244.5 (-104) |
New Orleans Pelicans Betting Form
New Orleans has played better basketball over the last couple of weeks because the defensive shape is improving. The DeAndre Jordan starting move has made them bigger, and they’ve been getting more stops without needing perfect offense to stay afloat.
Saturday is the test of whether that progress is portable without Murray. He controls tempo and steadies possessions, and when he sits, the Pelicans can drift into quicker shots and looser ball security. If New Orleans defends with the same edge and still wins the possession battle, the favorite can cover again.
For recent results, splits, and game logs, use the New Orleans Pelicans team page. Injury Report: Murphy remains out, and Missi is worth tracking.
Utah Jazz Betting Form
Utah is in a rough spot from an availability standpoint, and it shows up most on defense. When they don’t have their top scorers available, the margin tightens, and they have to win with energy, bench production, and pace.
The encouraging sign from Thursday was the second half. Utah competed after getting buried in the middle quarters, and the bench gave them real minutes and real scoring. If the Jazz can avoid the sloppy offensive stretches that fuel Pelicans runs, they have a path to keep this within the number at home.
For home trends and rotation context, use the Utah Jazz team page. Injury Report: Markkanen is out, and Keyonte George is questionable.
New Orleans Pelicans vs Utah Jazz Matchup Breakdown
This rematch is about whether Utah can survive the non-shooting and non-creation stretches that showed up Thursday. New Orleans won the second quarter by a massive margin because they forced empty trips and turned them into efficient offense.
With Murray sitting, Utah’s best angle is to attack the Pelicans’ organization and force more scramble possessions. If the Jazz can speed the game up, create transition chances, and keep New Orleans from setting its defense, the underdog becomes live.
The total is inflated for a reason after the last meeting, but the ingredients are mixed. New Orleans missing Murray can lower their offensive efficiency, while Utah missing creators can lead to dry spells. If this game plays closer to a half-court rematch than a track meet, the under has a real path.
New Orleans Pelicans vs Utah Jazz Predictions and Best Bets
New Orleans is the better team right now, but Murray sitting is enough to make me respect the home dog. Utah’s bench production was real, and if the Jazz clean up the sloppy offensive stretches, they can hang around.
The cleaner play is the total. The market is pricing in another shootout, but both teams have availability issues that can drag efficiency, especially if the game tightens late and possessions slow down.
Best Bet: Under 244.5 (-104)
UP TO $250 BONUS BET
The Best Live In-Game Betting
21+ Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Picks and Handicappers
To build your card, start with NBA picks and compare matchups on the NBA previews hub so you’re lining up your bets with the full slate, not one isolated angle. The NBA expert betting guide is especially useful on rematches like this, where the first game can inflate numbers and create overreaction in totals and spreads. Keep an eye on movement all day using the latest NBA odds page, then compare long-term results on the handicappers leaderboard to see who’s consistently beating the market. If you want to scale volume with a tighter process, you can also buy picks and keep your slate built around proven edges and better number discipline.
