Free NBA Picks Today: Utah Jazz vs Miami Heat 12/31/22

The Utah Jazz (19-19, 12-5 Home), one of the league’s top scoring teams, host the Miami Heat (18-18, 7-10 Away) on Saturday. Both teams will be playing the second of a back-to-back. The Heat are 3-3 without a day off, while the Jazz are 4-5.

Miami was defeated by the Denver Nuggets 124-119 at Ball Arena yesterday. Tyler Herro was a top performer in the loss with 26 points and 10 rebounds. The Heat are eighth in the Eastern Conference. Utah dropped their third in a row in a close one yesterday at Golden 1 Center, falling to the Sacramento Kings 126-125.

Lauri Markkanen had 36 points in the loss, carrying the team. The Jazz are 10th in the Western Conference. The teams are meeting for the first time this season. Miami won both matchups between the teams last season, the last of which was a 111-105 triumph at Vivint Arena in November 2021, their third straight head-to-head victory.

Herro led the Heat with 27 points, while Duncan Robinson played a key role with 22 points. Bojan Bogdanovic had 26 points in the losing effort. Herro and Bam Adebayo, averaging 21.1 and 20.9 points per game, respectively, have led the Heat in scoring this season. Adebayo also has grabbed 9.8 rebounds per game.

Meanwhile, Kyle Lowry is dishing 5.9 assists per game. Markkanen (23.6 ppg) and Jordan Clarkson (20.5) have been the primary providers of the Jazz’s offense. Markkanen also has collected 8.3 rebounds per game.

Mike Conley has doled out 7.5 assists per game.The Jazz are averaging 117.1 points per game, ranking as one of the most explosive offenses in the league (4th).

The Jazz have found success in recent clashes between the teams at Vivint Arena, winning six of the last 10. Utah has won three straight at home this season.

In the last 10 games, Miami is 6-4 with an average margin of +1.5 (108.5-107.0). Utah has gone 4-6 over the last 10, allowing 117.6 points per game on average while scoring only 115.9 (-1.7 margin).

JAZZ HOT/COLD

(Last Five | Season Average | Differential)
Points + Rebounds + Assists:
Walker Kessler: 18.2 | 13.9 | +4.3
Kelly Olynyk: 13.0 | 20.6 | -7.6
Points per game:
Lauri Markkanen: 31.2 | 23.6 | +7.6
Kelly Olynyk: 7.0 | 12.6 | -5.6
Rebounds per game:
Walker Kessler: 8.2 | 6.3 | +1.9