The New Orleans Pelicans and the Utah Jazz are the two worst teams in the Western Conference, and this game will have no impact on the 2025 NBA playoffs. While the players on both teams are certainly playing to win—fighting for their futures in the league—this matchup carries major implications for the 2025 NBA Draft.
The Pelicans have been surging, recently winning three straight games to leapfrog the Jazz and climb out of last place. Utah, however, has home-court advantage in this NBA showdown. Will that be enough to shift the odds in their favor?
Matchup: Pelicans vs Jazz Overview
- Teams: New Orleans Pelicans at Utah Jazz
Win Probabilities:
The New Orleans Pelicans are expected to win this one. According to the NBA win probabilities, the Pelicans have a 60.98% chance to win this game while piling more misery onto a dreadful season for the Utah Jazz. But all hope is not lost for the home team—the Jazz still have a 39.02% chance to defend their home court and snag a much-needed victory.
Projected Final Score:
The projected final score for this can’t-miss NBA matchup between the Pelicans and the Jazz has been calculated using a combination of expert NBA picks, predictions, and recent game trends. With all of this in mind, the projected final score is New Orleans Pelicans 115-112 Utah Jazz.
Pelicans vs Jazz Odds
Oddsmakers expect a tight contest, but the Pelicans enter as slight road favorites. It’s unusual to see a 16-43 team favored on the road, especially considering New Orleans is just 5-24 away from home this season. However, Utah is dealing with significant injuries, while New Orleans is finally getting healthy. This is one of the reasons the Pelicans have been able to rip off their longest win streak of the season and why they’ll look to keep their momentum alive in Utah on Sunday evening.
Expert Prediction: Who Wins?
Why the New Orleans Pelicans Could Win
The phrase “health is wealth” isn’t typically used in the NBA, but it absolutely applies here. Due to frequent starter injuries, the Pelicans have struggled at the bottom of the Western Conference for most of the season. But now, with Zion Williamson and company back in action, they’re finally playing up to their potential. Trading away Brandon Ingram to the Toronto Raptors wasn’t an easy decision, but the Pelicans prioritized availability—and it’s already paying off. Although they no longer have Ingram, the assets New Orleans received in return for him are making an immediate impact.
New Orleans has vastly superior star power compared to the Jazz, but they’ll need to execute on both ends of the court to pick up the win. Winning on the road has been a struggle, but this is a prime opportunity to snag a rare victory. Utah ranks last in the NBA in steals and leads the league in turnovers, a combination that the Pelicans must exploit. New Orleans doesn’t shoot as many three-point shots as many other NBA teams, but their efficient scoring in the paint led by Zion Williamson should allow them to turn those extra possessions into points more often than not.
Why the Utah Jazz Could Win
The Utah Jazz own the second-worst record in the NBA at 14-44. Their home and road splits are equally dismal at 7-22, so there’s little comfort in playing at the Delta Center. While the Pelicans struggle away from home, Utah’s path to victory is simple: take more shots than New Orleans.
When the Jazz consistently attempt 5-10 fewer shots than their opponents, winning becomes a challenging task. They rank dead last in the league with just 6.7 steals per game while committing an NBA-worst 16.5 turnovers per game. This means Utah must be hyper-efficient with the shots they do take—an unreliable strategy across an 82-game grind.
Unfortunately for Utah, they’re catching New Orleans at the worst possible time—this is the best the Pelicans have looked all season. However, New Orleans’ confidence remains fragile. If the Jazz can jump out to an early lead, the Pelicans’ rhythm could unravel quickly. New Orleans has struggled to mount comebacks this season, but they’ve been strong at protecting leads. Utah will need to energize the home crowd with a dominant first quarter and disrupt the confidence New Orleans has been building to shift the momentum.
How to Make New Orleans Pelicans vs Utah Jazz Picks
The best way to make NBA picks for Pelicans vs. Jazz is by visiting Sportzino. With a wide range of NBA odds to choose from, Sportzino is the premier destination for expert picks and predictions. Whether you’re looking for moneylines, spreads, totals, or player props, Sportzino has you covered for every NBA matchup—including this intriguing Western Conference showdown.
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