The New Orleans Pelicans (0-1) and Utah Jazz (0-1) will square off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 9:30 p.m. ET from Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah. The game will broadcast live on KJZZ.
The Jazz are 1.5-point favorites over the Pelicans on the spread, with the over/under set at 239.5 total points. The Jazz are -120 moneyline favorites to win outright, while the Pelicans are listed as +102 underdogs to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Pelicans vs. Jazz predictions and NBA picks for Friday, October 23.
Pelicans vs Jazz Prediction
- Pelicans vs Jazz pick: Jeremiah Fears Over 19.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-102)
My Pelicans vs. Jazz best bet is Jeremiah Fears to record 20+ points, rebounds & assists. Make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
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Pelicans vs Jazz Odds
- Pelicans vs Jazz spread: Jazz -1.5 (-110), Pelicans +1.5 (-110)
- Pelicans vs Jazz over/under: 239.5 (-114o / -106u)
- Pelicans vs Jazz moneyline: Pelicans +102, Jazz -120
Pelicans vs Jazz NBA Preview
New Orleans Pelicans Betting Preview
Jeremiah Fears' minutes looked a bit lower in Game 1 against the Pacers, but that box score is misleading. He found himself in early foul trouble, which kept his overall court time down, but he was firmly in the starting lineup.
Moving into this second game, I am projecting Fears to comfortably reach the high-20s in minutes.
Offensively, Fears is incredibly dynamic. He's great at getting to the basket, but he is also insanely quick and fully capable of getting his shot up from the perimeter.
In that first game, he finished with 12 Points, Rebounds, and Assists (PRA) while shooting an abysmal 20% from the field and from three.
Fears also got very unlucky on potential rebounds and assists; he easily could have added a 5-and-3 stat line to his totals if his teammates had converted.
Utah Jazz Betting Preview
Unfortunately for me and my Jazz, their backcourt defense is highly suspect right now.
We just watched Utah give up massive production to Ty Jerome in their last game.
The Jazz struggle to contain quick, penetrating guards at the point of attack, which is exactly the archetype they are facing tonight.
The perimeter resistance simply isn't there for Utah right now.
Pelicans vs Jazz Pick, Betting Analysis
I am taking Fears over 19.5 PRA. I loved how he looked in that first game; he is talented, skilled, and has a real double-move craftiness to him.
Between his expected positive regression in shooting percentage, a normalization of his minutes without foul trouble, and a soft Utah backcourt matchup, I think this line is too low.
The books seem to think he is lower in the rotation pecking order than he actually is.
Pick: Jeremiah Fears Over 19.5 Points + Rebounds + Assists (-102)
