Utah Jazz vs Charlotte Hornets Prediction & Betting Tips - NBA

Prediction published on 22/02/2024, 02:53  by Kennedy Kechula | Modified on 22/02/2024 at 13:00 in NBA Prediction

The Utah Jazz will be at home to welcome the Charlotte Hornets when the NBA returns after the All-Star break. They are currently ranked 11th in the Western Conference while the Hornets are 13th in the East. The Jazz went into the All-Star season in poor form and will hope to end their slump and start a winning run here. Will Hardy’s men, who have won just four of their last 14 games, went into the break having lost four in a row. They were defeated 140-137 at home by the Warriors last time out. The loss saw them fall 2.5 games behind the Warriors who occupy the final playoff spot. Utah have won 26 times and are four games below .500. They will be confident of reducing this gap with this match as they have dominated this fixture over the years. The Jazz haven’t lost at home to Charlotte since 2007 and have won 16 straight home games against them. They currently are on a three-match winning run against the Hornets after winning the reverse match back in January. Otto Porter continues to be sidelined and will be unavailable here.

The Charlotte Hornets went into the break in the best form they have been in all season. They will hope to pick up from where they left off and extend their current winning run. Steve Clifford’s men have won their last three games and this has coincided with the moves they made during the trade window. They brought in Tre Mann, Grant Williams, Davis Bertans, and Seth Curry who have given them more depth on the offensive end. The Hornets' winning run however has come at home, now they leave their nest and for sure will be tested. They still possess one of the worst records in the league despite their newfound form and have lost 41 of 54 fixtures. LaMelo Ball and Mark Williams have both been ruled out of this trip due to ankle and back issues respectively. The Hornets are averaging 108.6 points a night which is almost 10 points fewer than Utah’s average.