The Utah Jazz are going to the playoffs and it’s all about getting back to their rhythm and ironing out the rift within in the team, particularly that one involving Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. The New Orleans Pelicans on the other hand, are wondering if they will be on the court with rookie superstar Zion Williamson who left the “Bubble” to return home for a family matter. He is now back in Orlando and doing quarantine until this Tuesday (July 28) after receiving a number of negative tests for COVID-19. Will he play? Can the Pelicans win without him in their opening game at Disney World? Let’s find out.
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Betting Preview for the Utah Jazz vs. New Orleans Pelicans NBA Regular Season Game on July 30, 2020
Where: Walt Disney World, Orlando
When: Thursday, July 30, 2020, 6:30 PM ET
Line: Utah Jazz (+2.5) vs. New Orleans Pelicans (-2.5) – view all 2019-20 NBA lines
TV Broadcast: TNT
Betting on the Utah Jazz (+2.5)
Regular Season Record: 41-23
The Jazz are secured of a slot in the playoffs, but they are looking to establish a more solid foundation before the postseason battles. Among the thing Utah wants to know right away is how would they fare without Bojan Bogdanovic, the team’s second-leading scorer this season. Bogdanovic is out for the rest of the year after undergoing a surgery on his wrist last May, and his absence will put an even heavier load on the likes of Donovan Mitchell and Mike Conley. In Utah’s 128-120 home win over the Pelicans on Nov. 27, Mitchell spearheaded his team with 37 points, while Bogdanovic had 28. Rudy Gobert didn’t play in that game, but Utah’s bench stepped up with 33 points to just 24 by New Orleans’ reserves.
The Jazz are 4-2 against the spread in four of their last six games as the designated road team.
Betting on the New Orleans Pelicans (-2.5)
Regular Season Record: 28-36
A freakish athlete like Zion Williamson definitely belongs at Disney World, as he’s quite the entertainer on the basketball court, but Pelicans fans might have to accept the possibility that last year’s No. 1 overall pick at the 2019 NBA Draft is unlikely to play against the Jazz. COVD-19 isn’t the issue for the young star, but prior injuries are – if coach Gentry feels Williamson needs to warm-up his legs for a few days before returning to play that’s what he’ll do to protect team owner Gayle Benson’s investment. In that case, New Orleans will further rely on Derrick Favors for interior scoring and defense while getting help from Jaxson Hayes and Jahlil Okafor. But it’s the tandem of Jrue Holiday and Brandon Ingram, who will have to show the way for the New Orleans team that’s fourth in the league in scoring with 116.2 points per game and third in assists per game with 27.0. Ingram is averaging 24.3 points per game. Holiday, on the other hand, is putting up 19.6 per outing.
The total has hit the over in two of the Pels’ last three games as the home team.
Writer’s Prediction
The Jazz wins, 111-101.
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