Utah Jazz Week Thirteen Outlook, Predictions

1/21 Utah vs. Indiana

7:00 pm MT – Root Sports/League Pass

Opponent record: 20-19

Season series: Tied 0-0

Immediately after playing the Dallas Mavericks, the Jazz will travel back home to host the Indiana Pacers in the second night of a back-to-back. Based solely on opponent records, this could very well be the hardest game of the week for the Jazz, but then again, depending on which Indiana team shows up, it could also be the easiest.

The Pacers have been far and above one of the most confusing teams this season. They’ve logged huge wins such as against the Oklahoma City Thunder and twice against the Los Angeles Clippers prior to the injuries to Blake Griffin and Chris Paul. However, they’ve also lost some doozies to the likes of the Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers and most recently an embarrassing 140-112 loss to the Denver Nuggets in London, England.

I don’t know if they enjoyed too much crumpets and tea out there or what, but giving up 140 points to the Nuggets is outrageous. I understand they’re a respectable scoring team but there’s no excuse to allow such a mediocre team to put up that kind of scoring output.

But it also perfectly encapsulates how night and day this Indiana team has been this season. In wins they’re outscoring their opponents by an average of 11.7 points per game, but in losses they’re being outmatched by 14.5 points per contest.

Furthermore, they have been an outstanding home team as suggested by their 15-5 home record that is second only to the Cleveland Cavaliers as the best home record in the Eastern Conference. However, their dismal road record of 5-14 is better only than the Brooklyn Nets and Philadelphia 76ers in the East.

The Pacers have been a poor defensive team and just a middle of the pack offensive team so their inconsistency isn’t surprising in and of itself, but the drastic difference in their ups and downs surely has been. Before the loss to the Nuggets, it looked like the Pacers were getting things turned around as they were riding a five-game winning streak, however they had gone on a four-game losing streak just prior to that.

It’s been such a turbulent season for them that even their star player Paul George was quoted saying that this had been “one of the most frustrating seasons [he’s] ever been a part of.”

Still, a team that boasts the likes of Paul George and crafty point guard Jeff Teague (which will create another fun story line given that Teague was George Hill’s replacement on his former Indiana squad) is one that can’t be overlooked. The Jazz will have to be at their best to hopefully force the Pacers into one of their not so uncommon off nights and earn the victory.

However, given Indiana’s woeful road performances, the fact that both teams will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back and for Indy, the third game of a West Coast road trip, and how bound and determined you know George Hill will be to prove that his former team made a horrible mistake in letting him go, I’m pinning the Jazz as winners in a hard-fought bout.

Last year’s home contest against the Pacers was an overtime victory for the Jazz and one of the most exhilarating games of the 2015-16 season. Perhaps with a little luck and with George Hill out with a lot to prove, we’ll be treated to a similar exciting display as last year.

My Prediction: Jazz Win

Final Score: Utah 108, Indiana 103

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So after Utah’s commendable 3-0 performance in Week 12, I’m feeling good about projecting them to boost their winning streak up to six straight. They’ll have their work cut out for them against a scrappy Suns team on Monday, but should be more than capable of fending off the Mavs and Pacers, especially in a week that, just like last week, features three days of rest in the middle of a three-game slate.

Despite a bit of a scary game against the Magic on Saturday, the Jazz appear like they’re starting to get their mojo back. Hopefully this week will only help them to continue to do so as they’ll need it for Week 14 where they’ll take on both of the closest teams battling them for playoff position – the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Memphis Grizzlies.

If Utah hopes to increase their lead over those teams and take some much-needed confidence into those match-ups, it will be critical that they take care of business in this week’s three winnable games.

All stats courtesy of NBA.com