Jazz vs Pistons Prediction, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds & Picks

· Dec 20 - 6 minutes read

The Utah Jazz (17-15) have a three-game road trip against the Eastern Conference’s Central Division, having faced the two best teams first, and now closing it out with the Detroit Pistons (8-24) on Tuesday. Not much was expected for either of these teams, but the Jazz have drastically over-achieved, while the Pistons look bound for one of the worst records in the NBA.

The Jazz lost to the Cleveland Cavaliers 122-99 on Monday, with the offense struggling to score, losing two straight games. On Sunday, the Pistons lost to the Brooklyn Nets 124-121, actually having a 17-point lead at halftime, but the defense fell apart.

Jazz vs Pistons Prediction, Game Preview, Live Stream, Odds & Picks

Let’s check the latest NBA odds, stats, injury report, and NBA lines for Jazz vs Pistons. We’ve plenty of NBA betting for you to consider.

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Jazz Play by Committee

After a great start, this Jazz team seems to be slowly slipping out of tune. There is still a lot of talent on this roster, which has made this team successful for a little, but soon the question will be what to do with them. The Jazz could continue to head for better lottery odds, trading while their players are at the highest value, or wait it out and rebuild slowly.

Lauri Markkanen has revived his career, from proving his defensive worth last season to averaging 22.3 points and 8.3 rebounds in this one. However, he is one of five players on the Jazz roster averaging over 12 points per game. After being primarily a bench player, Jordan Clarkson has played great in a starting role, putting up 39 points in a recent win over the New Orleans Pelicans.

While playing through committee allows players to play above themselves any night, it often leads to a loss if that doesn’t happen. For example, in the 123-97 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks, the Jazz still had five players over 10 points but not a single one over 20.

Pistons Defensive Woes

It is unsurprising that a young team, which hasn’t won many games, would be statistically bad on defense. They are giving up 117.9 points per game and have a defensive rating of 118, both the second-worst in the NBA.

There is no marquee wing defender, with Killian Hayes and Bojan Bogdanović trying to hold their own, but that is not a recipe for success. Isaiah Stewart and 19-year-old rookie Jalen Duren have proven to be solid in the paint defensively, but they are just too young to have the needed impact. They have allowed at least 120 points in the last four games.

During those four games, three were at home, and the offense seemed to take a step up. Each game had at least five players in double figures, which may be a product of the Pistons in the middle of a rebuild. They are giving everyone opportunities to prove themselves, and right now, offensively, they are delivering.

Bogdanović averaged 27.5 points during those games, 21.3 on the season. He has been the best player on the team, and with Cade Cunningham out for the season, the Pistons might have some teams making calls about Bogdanović’s availability.

Jazz vs Pistons Game Injuries

Jazz vs Pistons Head-to-Head

The Jazz and Pistons have already played once. The Pistons pulled off the road upset, winning 125-116, with Bogdanović scoring 23 points.

Jazz vs Pistons Game Information

Game: Jazz (17-15) vs Pistons (8-24)
Location: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
Day/Time: Tuesday, Dec. 20, 7:00 p.m. EST
Jazz vs Pistons Live Stream: NBA Game Pass

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Jazz vs Pistons Betting Lines

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Jazz vs Pistons Prediction

Despite a terrible record, the Pistons have been solid against the spread, going 16-13-3 and 5-4-1 over the last 10. While the defense has not been great, their offense and teams underestimating them keep them in games. This might not be the case facing the Jazz.

They have already beaten the Jazz, who must beat the teams worse than them if they want to remain competitive. The Jazz are a more talented team than the Pistons, which will give them the win.

The Utah Jazz are listed at -140 in our Vegas NBA lines. This means that if you wager $100 on the Jazz, you have a chance to win $71. The Detroit Pistons are +120, offering a chance to win $120 on a $100 wager.

The implied probability attached to the betting lines gives the Utah Jazz a 58.33% chance to win, with the Pistons at 45.45%.

BET THIS PICK: Utah Jazz -2½