Free NBA Picks Today: Utah Jazz vs Brooklyn Nets 1/20/23

Free NBA Picks Today: Utah Jazz vs Brooklyn Nets 1/20/23
Fri 20th January 2023

Offense meets defense when the Utah Jazz (24-24, 15-8 Home) play host to the Brooklyn Nets (27-17, 14-10 Away) on Friday. Brooklyn is playing on back-to-back days after getting defeated by the Phoenix Suns 117-112 at Footprint Center yesterday, their fourth loss in a row. Kyrie Irving was a top performer in the loss with 30 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists.

The Nets are the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference. Utah won in dominating fashion on Wednesday at Vivint Arena, beating the Los Angeles Clippers 126-103. Lauri Markkanen had 34 points and 12 rebounds to lead the team. The Jazz are seventh in the Western Conference.

The teams are meeting for the first time this season. Brooklyn and Utah split their matchups last season, taking one apiece. The Nets earned the win in the last meeting 114-106 at Barclays Center in March 2022. Kevin Durant led the Nets with 37 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists.

Donovan Mitchell had 30 points in the losing effort. The Nets have been led this season by Durant, who is averaging 29.7 points per game, seventh-highest in the league. Meanwhile, Nicolas Claxton is grabbing 8.6 rebounds per game, and Ben Simmons is dishing 6.0 assists. Markkanen (24.8 ppg) has powered the Jazz’s offense.

Markkanen also has pulled down 8.7 rebounds per game. Mike Conley has doled out 7.5 assists per game. The Jazz rank fourth in the NBA in offensive efficiency, while the Nets are fourth in defensive efficiency.

The Nets have not found much success at Vivint Arena in recent seasons, losing eight of the last 10 visits. Meanwhile, the Nets are 4-3 this season when playing the second of a back-to-back and 1-3 in such games against rested opponents.

The Jazz are 3-3 with a rest advantage. In the last 10 games, Brooklyn is 5-5 with an average margin of +1.8 (110.2-108.4). Utah has also split the last 10 (5-5), scoring 120.2 points per game on average while allowing 117.4 (+2.8 margin).

NETS HOT/COLD

(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Seth Curry: 20.0 | 13.9 | +6.1
Kevin Durant: 24.0 | 41.7 | -17.7
Points per game:
Seth Curry: 16.0 | 9.8 | +6.2
Kevin Durant: 17.0 | 29.7 | -12.7
Rebounds per game:
Nicolas Claxton: 11.0 | 8.6 | +2.4
Kevin Durant: 5.0 | 6.7 | -1.7
Assists per game:
Ben Simmons: 9.3 | 6.0 | +3.3
Kevin Durant: 2.0 | 5.3 | -3.3

JAZZ HOT/COLD

(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Walker Kessler: 28.0 | 15.6 | +12.4
Points per game:
Mike Conley: 14.5 | 10.5 | +4.0
Rebounds per game:
Walker Kessler: 12.8 | 7.2 | +5.6
Assists per game:
Jordan Clarkson: 3.0 | 4.3 | -1.3

SportsTips’ NBA Pick:

Utah Jazz (-225)

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*Odds correct at time of publication, courtesy of BetMGM.

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