Posted at 11:30 AM EST. Odds subject to change.

Pinnacle O239½ -106 BET365 O239 -110 Sportsinteraction O239½ -110 888Sport O239½ -110

Utah/New Orleans over 239½

Best Odds: -106 at Pinnacle

8:00 PM EST. It feels like all we're doing is betting on Jazz games but hey, if it keeps working, why not? The Jazz and Pels already played three times this season and every match ended way under the listed total tonight. Oddsmakers listed their first battle at 227, and the next two at 232½. Those contests averaged only 216 points. So then why is this total so high and ticking up even higher tonight? Why should we expect anything different? Well, a few reasons, but as usual it's mostly about the resurgent Utah Jazz.

Will Hardy's team has formed a chemistry beyond what many thought would be possible at this juncture of the season, particualrly on offense. Different rotations, like Jordan Clarkson coming off the bench, have paid huge dividends for his squad, and no defense has been able to slow them down. Counting only regulation time, since two of their recent contests went into OT, the last 10 Jazz games have averaged a humble 246 points per game. Unsurprisingly, most of those points are coming from Utah. Since their last loss against the Pelicans on December 28, when they only scored a measly 105 points, the Jazz are averaging a whopping 129 ppg. They've only lost 3 times since, nearly a full month of winning for a team that's obviously found its rhythm.

And it's coming at a good time. We won't pretend to know all the reasons why the Pelicans aren't playing great defense lately, but the proof is in the data. New Orleans has allowed 118.6 ppg in their last 5 contests, perhaps an indication of mid-season lethargy as they're typically predicated by their stout resistance. Of course they also faced offenses that are playing really well right now-- Denver, Dallas, even Charlotte. That won't change tonight. The Pels' defense ranks 26th in their last 5 affairs, the same span of time where Utah ranks 2nd in offensive efficiency and 2nd in pace. This is a game where we lean Utah at +6½, but New Orleans lost twice to their Western Conference foe already this season so we'd rather not overcommit to the spread. All the evidence suggests the new-look Jazz will greatly affect the output and tempo of this battle. We're here for it.

Farley

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