Red-Hot Jazz Favored Over Visiting Pelicans

Despite playing nine of its first 13 games on the road, Utah (9-4 SU, 8-5 ATS) sits atop the Northwest Division and owns the third-best record in the West. The Jazz ride a 5-0 SU and ATS streak into Tuesday’s meeting with the Pelicans (5-7, 5-7), who snapped a four-game skid on Sunday.

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

It’s hard to believe now, but the Jazz were 2.5-point underdogs when these teams last met in the first game of the Orlando bubble in July. Utah had been bet up to -6 as of Tuesday morning, while strong action on the UNDER had driven the total down to 218 at most books.

New Orleans News & Notes

The Pelicans hope to have Lonzo Ball back in the lineup after the guard missed the last three games with knee soreness. Ball, who is averaging 12.4 points, 4.4 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game, was a full participant in practice Monday and told reporters he planned to play against the Jazz. Nickeil Alexander-Walker has shone in place of Ball over the last three games, averaging 19.7 points and shooting 59 percent from the field.

New Orleans looks to build on Sunday’s 128-123 victory over Sacramento that snapped an 0-4 SU and ATS skid. Zion Williamson scored 31 points on 13-for-15 shooting, despite sitting much of the fourth quarter due to foul trouble, with Brandon Ingram contributing 22 points and Eric Bledsoe adding 21. The 128 points was a season high for the Pelicans, who have gone OVER the total in six of their last seven games.

Utah News & Notes

Playing on the road for the sixth time in a seven-game stretch Sunday in Denver, the Jazz were not at their best but still found a way to earn their fifth straight victory and cover with a 109-105 win.

Donovan Mitchell missed 13 of his 20 shots, the Jazz allowed 23 offensive rebounds, Utah turned the ball over on five consecutive possessions in the fourth quarter and the team shot 16-for-28 from the free-throw line. But the Jazz buckled down defensively when it mattered most, going UNDER the total for the fifth time in six games.

Joe Ingles missed his third straight game and fourth in five with right Achilles soreness that has nagged him all season, and the small forward is listed as questionable for tonight. Bogdan Bogdanovic has picked up the slack during Ingles’ absence, scoring at least 17 points in each of the games Ingles has missed.

Jordan Clarkson also continues to sizzle off the bench, scoring a team-high 23 points in 30 minutes Sunday. Clarkson has scored at least 21 points in three of his last five outings and hasn’t been held below double digits since New Year’s Day.

Betting Pick: Jazz -6.5

Utah’s balanced attack and its ability to play lockdown defense down the stretch should allow the Jazz to pull away for a comfortable victory.