Utah Jazz Vs. Detroit Pistons: Predictions, Starting Lineups (12/21/23)
After dropping their game yesterday against Cleveland on the first night of a road back-to-back, the Utah Jazz will try to bring home a win against Detroit. Our Utah Jazz vs. Detroit Pistons predictions, best bets, preview, and analysis are below.
Utah Jazz Vs. Detroit Pistons Prediction
Even when playing against a team that is missing their three best players (Cleveland), the Utah Jazz still can’t get a win. Besides just the injury bug getting a hold of this team at the beginning of this season, there is another glaring issue: road play. The Jazz hold a horrendous 2-13 record on the road so far, with their only wins coming against a depleted Grizzlies team and the abysmal Portland Trail Blazers.
Utah has allowed opponents to shoot 50.8% from the field and 40% from behind the arc when it is on the road. Of course, some of the Jazz’s struggles have to do with talent, or the lack thereof; however, a 2-13 record and a -17.1 net rating away from Vivint are hardly excusable.
Likewise, the Detroit Pistons have been terrible this year; they are riding a shocking 24-game losing streak, which is tied for fourth for the longest losing streak in NBA history. In that stretch, Detroit has lost by an average of nearly 15 points while committing close to 16 turnovers and 23 fouls per game. Woof.
The margin of error for Detroit to avoid having the longest losing streak in the league’s history is razor-thin. This is undoubtedly the Pistons’ best chance to snap the streak, so we expect them to take full advantage against this shorthanded Utah team that has been playing as poorly on the road as any other NBA team. Much to our dismay, we will be riding with the Detroit Pistons against the spread at home, as their motivation level for securing a win and getting off this streak has to be high.
Further, the Pistons at least have most of their players, save Jalen Duren, healthy, including Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Isaiah Stewart, and Bojan Bogdanovic, who should be able to put together quality games against this horrendous Jazz road defense. Utah won’t have Lauri Markkanen, Talen Horton-Tucker, Jordan Clarkson, Omer Yurtseven, or Keyonte George. That is a recipe for disaster for an already horrible road team.
Roll with the Pistons getting points here; this could be their last (realistic) chance to avoid going down in the history books for the wrong reason.
Utah Jazz Vs. Detroit Pistons Prediction: Detroit Pistons -2 (-115)
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Utah Jazz Vs. Detroit Pistons Best Odds
The Utah Jazz are narrow two-point road dogs against the Pistons in Detroit. The Pistons are -135 to snap their 24-game losing streak, while Utah is +115 to win outright and secure just its third road victory of the 2023-24 regular season. The sportsbooks have this point total right around 238 points, which is a fairly high number that indicates a fast-paced game. This should not come as much of a surprise, as both teams boast bottom-five defenses in the NBA.
Utah Jazz Starting Lineup
PG: Kris Dunn
SG: Talen Horton-Tucker
SF: Simone Fontecchio
PF: John Collins
C: Walker Kessler
Detroit Pistons Starting Lineup
PG: Cade Cunningham
SG: Jaden Ivey
SF: Bojan Bogdanovic
PF: Ausar Thompson
C: Isaiah Stewart
Utah Jazz Vs. Detroit Pistons Injuries
Detroit’s injury report is fairly light ahead of Thursday night’s matchup against the Jazz; it will be without Jalen Duren (ankle) and Monte Morris (quad) but should have almost everyone else available unless someone is a late scratch. Killian Hayes is a game-time decision for the Pistons. Meanwhile, Utah will continue to miss Keyonte George (foot), Talen Horton-Tucker (foot), Lauri Markkanen (hamstring), and Jordan Clarkson (bicep), while Omer Yurtseven cannot give it a go due to an illness.
