Utah Jazz at Cleveland Cavaliers NBA Picks & Predictions 1/4/2019

Friday, January 4, 2019

Quicken Loans Arena

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Utah Jazz head to Quicken Loans Arena to take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, January 4, 2019. The opening line for this game has Utah as 8 point favorites.

The Jazz head into this matchup with a mark of 18-20. They are 4th in the Northwest Division. They have a point differential of 1.7 as they average 107.7 points per contest while giving up 106.1 per game. The Cavaliers have an overall mark of 8-30. They currently are 5th in the Central Division. They total 102.0 points per contest and give up 111.4, which is a point differential of -9.4.

Valuable Utah Jazz Betting Trends

The Utah Jazz are 18-19-1 against the spread this season

The Utah Jazz are 19-19-0 against the over/under this year

Important Cleveland Cavaliers Betting Trends

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 18-19-0 against the spread this season

The Cleveland Cavaliers are 17-19-0 against the over/under this year

Key Utah Jazz Injuries

No key injuries to report

Key Cleveland Cavaliers Injuries

11/26/18 G JR Smith Possible Trade is out indefinitely
11/16/18 F John Henson Wrist is out indefinitely
10/29/18 F Kevin Love Foot is out indefinitely
01/02/19 C Ante Zizic Knee is questionable Friday vs Utah
01/02/19 G David Nwaba Knee is questionable Friday vs Utah

Player Spotlight

Ricky Rubio comes into this game averaging 12.7 points per contest while playing 30.0 minutes per night this year. He grabs 3.7 rebounds per contest and distributes 6.4 assists per game. His FG percentage is 39% while his free throw percentage is 84%. Donovan Mitchell averages 20.1 points per contest in 32.4 minutes per game. He averages 3.4 assists per game and 3.6 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 41% for the season while his free throw percentage is 79%.

Player Spotlight

Rodney Hood scores 12.9 points per contest while playing 28.1 minutes per game. He hauls in 2.4 rebounds per contest and has 2.0 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is at 89%. Jordan Clarkson averages 16.9 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 26.6 minutes per game. He also brings in 3.4 rebounds per game and has 2.3 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 86%.

Useful Team Statistics

Utah averages 107.7 points per contest, which is 21st in the league. Their average scoring margin is 1.7 and their shooting percentage is 46% as a unit, which has them ranked 13th. From 3-point territory they shoot 34%, which is good for 23rd in the NBA. They average 44.2 boards per contest and 24.8 assists per game, which ranks them 21st and 11th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 5th with 15.2 per game. The Jazz allow 106.1 points per contest, which is 8th in the NBA. They also surrender a 46% shooting percentage and a 36% average from 3-point range, ranking them 20th and 21st in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 42.5 rebounds a game which ranks 2nd, and they allow 21.1 assists per game which puts them in 1st place in the league. They force 14.8 turnovers per game which ranks them 21st in the NBA.

Useful Team Statistics

Cleveland is 28th in the NBA with 102.0 points per contest this season. They are 26th in the league in shooting at 44%, while their average scoring margin is -9.45. They shoot 35% from beyond the arc, which is good for 17th in the league. They are 24th in the NBA in rebounding with 43.0 boards per contest and 29th in assists per game with 20.0. The Cavaliers are 28th in turnovers per contest with 12.7. The Cavaliers give up 111.4 points per game, which ranks them 21st in the league. Their defense surrenders a 49% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 30th and 22nd in those defensive statistics. They rank 19th with 24.2 dimes allowed per game and 7th with 43.6 boards surrendered per contest. The Cavaliers are 1st in the league in forcing turnovers with 11.9 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Jazz are 22nd in the league in defensive rating with 106.6, and their offensive rating of 108.2 is ranked 5th. They are 13th in the NBA in pace with 99.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 53% is 12th. As a unit they are 14th in the league in true shooting percentage with 56% and they shoot 3-pointers on 38% of their shot attempts, ranking 7th in the NBA. Utah is 3rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 17th in the NBA.

Advanced Statistics

Cleveland is 25th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 11.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 11 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 55%, which is 1st in the league. The Cavaliers are 23rd in the NBA in offensive rating with 106.9, and their defensive rating of 116.8 is ranked 30th. In terms of pace they are 29th in the league with 95.5 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 28th. As a team they are 27th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shots, ranking 27th in the league.

Who will win tonight's Jazz/Cavaliers NBA game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take Utah -8

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