The J-Notes
Fansided

Utah Jazz 2017-18 Week 14 Outlook, Predictions

By Jared Woodcox

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 12: Jazz Bear, mascot for the Utah Jazz rubs a fans head during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the New York Knicks on January 12, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 12: Jazz Bear, mascot for the Utah Jazz rubs a fans head during the game between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the New York Knicks on January 12, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /
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INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JANUARY 12: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers celebrates after the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 12, 2018 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN – JANUARY 12: Victor Oladipo #4 of the Indiana Pacers celebrates after the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 12, 2018 at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Ron Hoskins/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1/15 Utah vs. Indiana

7:00 pm MT – AT&T SportsNet/League Pass

Opponent record: 22-20

Season series: Tied 0-0

Despite the fact that the Indiana Pacers were pinned by many during the preseason to be a sure-fire lottery team, they have absolutely exceeded expectations this year and have been a joy to watch. While a recent slump with Victor Oladipo sidelined dropped the Pacers to eighth in the Eastern Conference, they were recently right in the thick of things for the fourth seed in the East and are still just 2.5 games out of that spot.

The heavily criticized Paul George trade from this summer has turned out to be much less lopsided than many presumed considering how spectacular Oladipo, who’s the current frontrunner for the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award, and Domantas Sabonis have looked so far this season. The Pacers were able to net two guys who figure to be a key part of their long-term future in exchange for a disgruntled star who had no plans of staying anyway.

While an above-.500 record and impressive wins over elite teams certainly make the Pacers a significant threat, they’ve also been somewhat inconsistent this season. If the Jazz are able to shut down Oladipo and if Myles Turner continues to be sidelined with an elbow injury, then Utah may be able to sneak by, especially since Indiana will be coming into Utah on the second night of a back-to-back.

The Pacers have had a weird habit of falling really far behind early in games this season, then fighting back to earn impressive come-from-behind victories. They did just that in their latest win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in which they previously trailed by 22 points. Considering how poorly the Jazz have played in third quarters recently, they’ll need to be careful to not come out of halftime flat-footed.

Even though the Jazz have under-performed of late, since they’ll finally be back home and this is a back-to-back for the Pacers, this should actually be a very closely contested game and I feel like it’s sort of a toss-up. If Utah can ride the home crowd and out-energize a typically energetic Pacers team, they may be able to come out on top. But if they struggle to get going after a long road trip, Indiana will probably run them off the court.

I imagine the final result will likely be somewhere between those two options, but I’m still pinning the Pacers to come away with a narrow victory over the slumping Utah Jazz.

My Prediction: Pacers Win

Final Score: Indiana 102, Utah 97

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