Pelicans vs Utah Prediction 21 January 2025

🔊What should we expect from the match between the two worst teams in the Western Conference? New Orleans and Utah are having a very weak season, occupying the 14th and 15th places respectively in the standings, and are no longer dreaming of making the playoffs. The key difference between them is that the Jazz have one less win (10 compared to 11). In this situation, we will try to analyze all the details to provide you with an accurate prediction.

Head-to-Head

In head-to-head matchups, Utah has a noticeable advantage. Out of 49 games, New Orleans has won 19 times, while the Jazz have defeated their opponent 30 times. Therefore, the result of the previous meeting, which took place a couple of days ago, might seem quite unexpected (136-123 in favor of the Pelicans), despite the odds set.

New Orleans Pelicans

Can New Orleans extend their successful streak? The team has won 6 of their last 9 games, although before that they managed to achieve a positive result only in 5 cases. These victories cannot be called accidental. The Pelicans set a very high bar for themselves, even managing to put up a decent fight against Boston (119-120) and played Dallas (119-116). In the previous match against Utah, which took place on the night of January 18, there was no surprise. New Orleans was considered the clear favorite of the meeting and won without much trouble by a margin of 13 points (136-123).

Utah Jazz

Utah, on the other hand, is not in the best shape. In their last 6 games, the Jazz achieved a positive result only once, miraculously defeating Brooklyn (112-111 after overtime). As for the previous meeting with New Orleans (123-136), the team frankly failed the game. Utah was already trailing by 20 points by the end of the first quarter (22-42), and given the level of their players, no one expected a miraculous comeback. After this defeat, the Jazz dropped to the last spot in the Western Conference, although they hadn't been at the bottom of the standings for a long time.

Editorial Prediction

According to sportsbooks, Utah has no chances in the upcoming matchup. Undoubtedly, New Orleans is at the peak of their form, having won more games in recent matches than in the entire first part of the season, but can the Pelicans steamroll their opponent in a second consecutive head-to-head match? Last time, Utah had a very unsuccessful first quarter (22-42) and clearly does not want to "step on the same rake" in the upcoming game. However, the most reliable bet seems to be total points over (233.5). Typically, when these teams are on the same court, the games are always exciting. Even last season, the Pelicans and Jazz scored a combined 277 points (153-124).