The New Orleans Pelicans are set to play against the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center. Both teams have started the 2027 regular season with a record of 0-1. The game will take place on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 9:30 PM and will be broadcasted on KJZZ.
The Pelicans, led by head coach Jamahl Mosley, are coming off a close loss to the Indiana Pacers with a score of 123-120. They ended their preseason with a record of 3-1. Yves Missi, Dejounte Murray, and Zion Williamson showed strong performances in their last game.
The Utah Jazz, coached by Will Hardy, also lost their season opener to the Memphis Grizzlies by 20 points, with a score of 123-103. They had a promising preseason, finishing with a 3-1 record. Keyonte George and Lauri Markkanen were notable contributors in the Jazz's recent loss.
In this game, the Jazz are slight favorites with a spread of -2.5. The Pelicans enter as the underdogs with a spread of +2.5. The money line favors the Jazz at -137, while the Pelicans stand at +114.
Jazz vs Pelicans At a Glance
- Game Records: Both the Pelicans and Jazz are 0-1 at the start of the regular season.
- Venue: The game will take place at the Delta Center.
- TV Broadcast: The game will be aired on KJZZ.
- Star Players: Zion Williamson leads the Pelicans, while Lauri Markkanen is key for the Jazz.
- Game Odds: Jazz are favored with a -2.5 spread; Pelicans are at +2.5.
- Game Time: The game is on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 9:30 PM.
Jazz Notes: Utah's Early Season Home Game Preview
Scoring Overview
The Utah Jazz are scoring 103 points per game. This ranks them 24th in the league.
Despite the lower scoring, they attempt a fair amount of possessions at 101.1 per game, placing them 12th overall.
Shooting and Rebounds
The Jazz have a field goal percentage of 46.7%, which is 13th in the league. They shoot 34.4% from beyond the arc.
Rebounding is a concern, as they grab only 38 rebounds per game, ranking 25th.
Key Players to Watch
Lauri Markkanen is a standout with 18 points and 9 rebounds in his last game. He is critical for their offensive efforts.
Keyonte George is also a player to watch, scoring 22 points with 5 assists in the recent game against Memphis.
Defense and Challenges
Defensively, the Jazz allow 123 points per game, which ranks 20th. Opponents have been making shots at 47.3% against them.
The team allows 55 rebounds per game, a stat they need to improve.
Upcoming Games
The Jazz have upcoming home games against the Pelicans, Lakers, and Grizzlies. These games offer a chance to bounce back.
Playing at the Delta Center, they will look to leverage home-court advantage.
Injury Concerns
Jusuf Nurkić is out due to a foot injury, which affects their center position depth. Tony Bradley is questionable with a quadriceps strain.
Trey Alexander is also out, dealing with a knee injury.
Betting Trends
- The Jazz have not won a game this season.
- They are 0-1 against the spread.
- The total has gone under in their first game.
New Orleans Pelicans Look to Soar Against Utah Jazz
Offensive Overview
The New Orleans Pelicans score 120 points per game, placing them at 13th in the league. Their field goal percentage is 42.7%, which ranks 23rd. They excel at free throws, making 34 per game with a league-leading percentage of 91.9%.
The Pelicans attempt 59 two-point shots per game, ranking them 5th in the league. However, their two-point shooting percentage is 47.5%, placing them 24th. From beyond the arc, they make 10 threes per game.
Defensive Challenges
Defensively, the Pelicans allow 123 points per game, ranked 20th. Their opponents have a field goal percentage of 52.2%, ranking the Pelicans 25th in this category. Despite this, they allow only 9 three-pointers per game, which ranks them 8th.
The Pelicans allow opponents to attempt 60 two-point shots per game, placing them 26th. They must focus on improving their defense against two-point shots, as opponents make 63.3% of these attempts.
Key Players to Watch
Dejounte Murray is a key player, scoring 23 points with 7 assists in the recent game. Zion Williamson contributes 22 points per game, along with 3 rebounds and assists. Yves Missi adds strength in the center position with 13 points and 14 rebounds.
Saddiq Bey is another player to watch, contributing 13 points and 5 rebounds. Trey Murphy III adds depth, scoring 11 points and grabbing 4 rebounds. These players will play crucial roles against the Jazz.
Upcoming Schedule
The Pelicans face the Utah Jazz at the Delta Center on October 23. This is followed by a game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on October 24. They return home to play the Nuggets again on October 28.
Betting Trends
- The Pelicans have not won in their last three games.
- They are 0-1 against the spread as underdogs.
- The total has gone over in their last game.
- The Pelicans have not won any games straight up this season.
Jazz vs Pelicans Prediction: Under 242.5
The game between the Jazz and the Pelicans is likely to go under 242.5 points. Both teams have shown defensive weaknesses, but their offensive performances have been inconsistent. The Jazz score an average of 103 points per game, which is lower than most teams.
The Pelicans score more, with an average of 120 points per game, but they also allow 123 points. The Jazz have similar defensive issues, also allowing 123 points per game. These factors indicate a high-scoring game, but not enough to exceed 242.5 points.
When looking at previous head-to-head games, these teams have not surpassed the 242.5 total often. In their last few encounters, combined scores averaged below this number. This suggests a pattern that might continue in this game.
Considering the odds and past performances, the best pick is the under. The final score projection supports this with a total that remains below the set line. The Jazz are projected to win with a score of 121-115.
- Jazz vs Pelicans Prediction: Under 242.5
- Jazz vs Pelicans Score: Jazz 121 - Pelicans 115
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