Utah at New Orleans

Jaren Jackson Jr. had 24 points and 10 rebounds when Utah beat New Orleans 120-119 on October 23, the Jazz's only win in seven games. Utah has lost five straight since, the last two by 22 points each, and its scoring margin is minus 11.9 a game. New Orleans is at plus 1.7 a game. Four of its seven games finished within six points, and that group includes the one-point loss to this same Utah club. Monday's 135-134 win at Memphis took overtime, with Zion Williamson scoring nine of his 25 in the extra period. The Pelicans beat Sacramento by 12 and Atlanta by 22 in their other two wins. They have been in close games against nearly everyone, and Utah has stayed inside six points in three of its seven. Our bankroll breaks even on Utah with the points if the Jazz cover half the time. I'm building the total on the Utah offense. The Jazz have scored 105, 111, 90 and 97 in their last four, an average of 100.8. Those games finished with combined points of 215, 228, 202 and 216, and all four stayed UNDER the posted total. New Orleans has gone OVER in five of its seven games and scores 121.9 a game. Two of its three highest-scoring games, 135 and 135, went to overtime, so those totals came with five extra minutes. A Utah team that has scored fewer than 112 in each of its last four is not likely to supply the other half of a shootout. Take Utah with the points and play the UNDER tonight.