Chicago Bulls at Utah Jazz
Time: 8 PM CT (NBA League Pass)
Spread: UTA -5
Total: 190.5
Betting odds c/o 5dimes
The Utah Jazz are still pursuing the No. 8 spot in the West, and are just half a game behind the Portland Trail Blazers. As winners of its past two, it will host the Chicago Bulls at 8 PM Central on NBA League Pass. NBA oddsmakers are favoring the Jazz by 5-points in the game.
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The Jazz’ most recent win came in a 103-90 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves last night. Derrick Favors scored 20 points and grabbed nine rebounds and guard Rodney Hood hit 8 of 16 including 2 of 6 from three point range to finish with 22. Center Rudy Gobert had a tough time with rookie Karl-Anthony Towns who finished with 32 points and 12 rebounds. Gobert had 14 points, 12 rebounds, two assists, two blocks and a steal, though in 31 minutes.
Gobert is one of the top defensive centers in the league and blocks 2.6 shots per game. His rim protection is key behind Utah’s stringent half court defense, though he is not much of a scorer, good for just 9.6 points per game. Over his past five, Gobert has averaged 11.6 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocks, and Utah has won three of those five games.
Gordon Hayward is having another great season for the Jazz with 19.8 points, five rebounds and 3.6 assists in 35.5 minutes per game. But the only Jazz player to post a PER above 20, is Derrick Favors (23.6). Favors has continued to make strides as a player, but is still a level down from being an All-Star. This year the 6’10” forward has averaged 16.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 2.41 blocks/steals per game.
Favors has averaged 15.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game over his past three contests, and his performance in wins and losses is eye opening. In the Jazz’ 13 victories this season (with Favors playing) he is averaging 17.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game, but in the 16 losses he has played in he is good for just 15.8 points and 8.1 rebounds. Getting Favors involved can be looked at as a key to Utah’s success.
The Bulls continue to slide as winners of just two of its past six games. The most recent was a 120-93 defeat to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Bulls got big games from both Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler, but shot just 43 percent as a team while allowing the Clippers to shoot 53.6 percent. That is the recipe for a loss.
The Bulls are just 10-11 on the road this season. Chicago has received strong play from Butler and Pau Gasol this season, with both posting PERs above 20 (21.8 and 22.2 respectively). Derrick Rose has been woeful shooting the ball and is hitting just 41 percent from the floor and 25 percent from three.
Second-year forward Nikola Mirotic has had his sophomore struggles shooting too, and is worse off than Rose from the field (38.6 percent) though he is hitting the threes at a passable 35 percent.
The Bulls shoot just 43.4 percent from the field as a team this season while the team does keep its turnovers down to a reasonable 13.7 per game. Either way, the Jazz defense should be strong enough to hold fort and send Chicago packing with its fifth loss in seven games. The Jazz need this game and to make a surge to position itself in the West.
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OU TRENDS
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HEAD TO HEAD
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