The NBA is probably the toughest sport to handicap, and that difficulty increases with a season like this one. The coming draft lottery has numerous extremely talented difference-makers, so “tanking” adds a giant variable.
This complicated component is magnified when a game features one team that is clearly playing for ping-pong balls and another has a confusing power rating.
The Pelicans visit the Jazz on Saturday as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 245.5 points.
Utah has one of the league’s worst records and is incentivized to continue racking up losses. Their best players are sideline with injury, although the NBA is closely monitoring this situation.
Nonetheless, Lauri Markkanen is out for a couple of weeks, while Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkic are out for the season. Plus, Keyonte George missed Thursday’s game and may miss this contest.
Adding more incentive is the fine print. The Jazz only keep their draft pick if it lands in the top eight. Otherwise, it goes to the Thunder. Thus, given all the talent, the Jazz can ill afford to squander a lottery pick.
However, New Orleans already has lost its draft pick and is focused on winning games.
Additionally, Dejounte Murray just returned this week from a torn right Achilles and they are trying to generate a winning culture to springboard for next season.
That component is why their power rating and 18-42 record are moot points. This is now a different team.
Betting on the NBA?
The Pelicans have won both games since Murray’s return, including Thursday’s game in Salt Lake City over the Jazz, 129-118. A second game of a two-game series presents unique unknowns, but this specific matchup involves teams with contrasting objectives.
I have a 101-83-2 record against the spread in this Post sports section. My next play is the Pelicans -6.5 points at the Jazz (-110, BetMGM Sportsbook).
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Doug Kezirian is a New York Post contributor who has over two decades of experience in the betting space, including spending 11 years at ESPN as a host, columnist and betting analyst. He’s also the rare personality who has documented success – 14th place in 2023 Circa Million and Las Vegas SuperContest ($37K), two top-10 finishes in 2022 William Hill College Football Challenge ($58K) and also grabbed headlines with a $297K win on the 2021 NFL Draft.
