The Charlotte Hornets (15-25) and the Utah Jazz (25-12), who both like to play slow, will square off at Vivint Smart Home Arena. The game is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. ET on Friday, January 10, 2020.
Utah opened as a 13-point favorite, while the game’s Over/Under (O/U) has been set at 212.5 points.
Charlotte Hornets at Utah Jazz Betting Prediction
The Hornets enter this contest following a 112-110 loss to the Toronto Raptors. The game’s combined points (222) came in well over the projected point total of 206.5. Toronto’s turnover percentage was their largest advantage over Charlotte. The Raptors had a rate of 8.9 (better than their season average of 12.5), while the Hornets posted a mark of 14.9. Miles Bridges put together a solid game for Charlotte, finishing with 26 points and nine rebounds.
In the Jazz’s previous outing, they dismantled the New York Knicks, 128-104, comfortably covering as 13.5-point favorites. The game’s total points (232) finished well over the projected point total of 213.5. The Jazz had a better free throw rate (0.156 vs. 0.113) and had an effective field goal percentage of 0.633 (above their season average of 0.540). With 16 points and 16 rebounds, Utah’s Rudy Gobert played well.
Half-court execution will be critical when a pair of the NBA’s slowest-paced teams face off. Utah ranks 26th in possessions per game (100.4) and Charlotte is 30th (99.4). Moreover, the Hornets, who rank fifth in offensive rebounding percentage (24.0 percent), will go head-to-head against the Jazz, who rank fifth in defensive rebounding percentage (79.0 percent).
Charlotte holds records of 15-25 straight up (SU) and 19-19-2 against the spread (ATS). Vegas is known to place the total low when the Hornets are playing, as 55.0 percent of their games have finished over the projected point total.
Meanwhile, Utah owns records of 25-12 SU and 17-18-2 ATS. Unlike Charlotte, a little over half of Jazz games have finished under the O/U total.
Both teams have had a player take their game to the next level over their last five games. Terry Rozier (21 points,6.0 assists) has been great for the Hornets while Joe Ingles (13 points,6.8 assists) has made great contributions to the Jazz.
This will be the second game of the season between these two squads. Gobert had 17 points and 19 rebounds in the first matchup, in which the Jazz beat the Hornets 114-107, resulting in a push. The game finished with a total of 221 points, which was 13 points above the projected point total of 208 points. Converting at the free throw line was one of Utah’s biggest advantages. They were 19-20 (95.0 percent), while the Hornets were 17-22 (77.3 percent).
Hornets at Jazz Odds Pick
Prediction: ATS Winner – Jazz, O/U – Over
Betting Trends
On the road, Charlotte is 11-9 ATS with 13 overs and 7 unders.
At home, Utah is 8-8-1 ATS with 10 overs and 7 unders.
Utah is 9-1 when they allow less than 100 points, while Charlotte is 3-0.
When reaching 100 points, the Hornets are 13-15 and the Jazz are 24-7.
Utah ranks first in assists allowed per game (20.4) while Charlotte ranks last (27.2).
The Jazz rank fifth in three pointers allowed per game (31.6) while the Hornets rank 23rd (34.9).
Utah ranks 10th in points allowed in the paint per game (45.7) while Charlotte ranks 28th (51.6).
The Hornets rank 14th in points off turnovers per game (17.2) while the Jazz rank 28th (14.5).
Charlotte ranks 16th in second chance points per game (12.9) while Utah ranks 28th (10.8).
The Hornets rank third in fast break points allowed per game (12.0) while the Jazz rank 15th (12.8).
Utah ranks 13th in rebounds per game (45.7) while Charlotte ranks 25th (43.0).
The Jazz rank 18th in steals allowed per game (7.8) while the Hornets rank 25th (8.2).
Neither of these teams are great at blocking the ball. Charlotte is 25th in the league with 4.3 blocks per game while Utah is 28th with 4.1 blocks per game.
In its last five games, Charlotte is 2-2-1 ATS with 4 overs and 1 under.
Utah is 4-1 ATS with 3 unders and 2 overs over its last five games.
The Hornets’ average margin of defeat in their last five games has been 4.8, down from 6.5 for the season.
During their last five games, the Jazz have scored an average of 114.2 points per game (5.2 above their season average) and allowed an average of 101.0 points per game (4.8 below their season average).
