Pelicans odds vs. Jazz: Huge test against NBA’s hottest team

The New Orleans Pelicans will try to keep rolling tonight against the Utah Jazz, who are the NBA’s hottest team.

Both teams have won three in a row, but the Jazz have won 9-of-10 overall as they try to chase down the Grizzlies for the third seed in the Western Conference.

The Pels sit alone in the 10th seed, but they are just a game behind the Lakers for the 9th, which would be a nice achievement for a team that started the season 1-12. Credit should go to coach Willie Green, who kept his team focused and believing even though they started so poorly.

New Orleans has had three impressive wins in a row and looks to have found another level with CJ McCollum. He and Brandon Ingram are in a groove, Herbert Jones and Jonas Valanciunas have kept steady and the role players are stepping up.

This should be a great matchup between two teams that are playing well and have had some epic games in the past.

Can the Pelicans make it four in a row and inch closer to the Lakers?

New Orleans Pelicans vs. Utah Jazz: Odds, spread, over/under and best bets

According to WynnBET, the Pelicans are three point underdogs at home against the Jazz.

The money lines are set at +127 for New Orleans and -155 for Utah, so if you like the Pels in this one, just take the money line and get the better odds since three points at -110 isn’t great value.

The over/under is 227.5, which still seems high. There seems to be value here for bettors, as the books haven’t caught on that New Orleans is playing well defensively. The Pels have allowed just 97 points per game over their last three, so I do like the under in this one even though both of these teams have been scoring a ton of points lately.

I like the Pels to win a close game with a final score in the range of 112-107.

Brandon Ingram and CJ McCollum remain your best daily fantasy bets, but Jonas Valanciunas should also be on your radar, as he’s averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds over his last 10 games, though he faces a tough assignment tonight against Rudy Gobert. Ingram has had some of the biggest games of his career vs. the Jazz and had 33 in the last game. Expect a similar output tonight.

I really like Jaxson Hayes in this one, as he should have a size advantage over the Jazz power forwards and had a nice all-around game against the Kings. He continues to be my favorite low-cost play for the Pels.

The key tonight will be for New Orleans to keep the Jazz guards out of the paint, as their offense flows through Mike Conley Jr. and Donovan Mitchell. Herb Jones is going to have his hands full tonight and will hopefully be shadowing Mitchell and making his life miserable.

How to watch Pelicans vs. Jazz

The game vs. the Jazz tips off in the Smoothie King Center at 7:00 PM CT and you can watch on Bally Sports New Orleans, listen on ESPN 100.3 or go catch the game in person.