There’s no rest for the weary in the NBA, no matter how badly the Utah Jazz may need a break. At least they’re playing the Detroit Pistons tonight.
The Jazz (28-12) have lost two straight games, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. In the first of those losses, against the Toronto Raptors, the team had no starters available. In the second, against the Indiana Pacers, most of them returned. Still, they were missing arguably their most important player in Rudy Gobert.
Unfortunately, that projects as a trend moving forward. Gobert is nursing a shoulder injury that may keep him out of the rotation for an extended time. Nonetheless, the Pistons (8-30) are one of the worst teams in the National Basketball Association. It may not require the Stifle Tower to defend against their inexperienced attack.
Utah Jazz vs Detroit Pistons Odds Tonight
According to WynnBet, the Jazz are 12.5 point favorites to come away with a win tonight, and a -750 point favorite on the money line. The Pistons are +500 money line underdogs.
The over/under is presently at 225.0.
Utah Jazz Starting Lineup
The Jazzmen will miss Rudy Gobert, but otherwise should have a full cast of starters tonight. Look for Snyder to deploy a starting unit of Mike Conley, Donovan Mitchell, Bojan Bogdanovic, Royce O’Neale, and Hassan Whiteside.
Utah Jazz Injury Report
Outside of Gobert, the Jazz have 3 more players in the NBA’s health and safety protocols: Joe Ingles, Rudy Gay and Elijah Hughes. Malik Fitts is also sidelined with a wrist injury.
Utah Jazz vs Detroit Pistons Prediction
As a team in need of a bounce back game, the NBA’s Schedule Gods smiled upon the Utah Jazz with this game. They couldn’t ask for a better opponent than these Detroit Pistons.
That’s not a knock on the young group in Motor City. First overall pick Cade Cunningham has shown flashes of immense potential. Meanwhile, young players like Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart have given Pistons faithful good reason to expect them to be part of their core moving forward.
Regardless, it would take more than a Gobert absence to favor this group over the Jazz. Look for Utah’s experience to win out in a contest where Whiteside’s replacement rim protection should suffice in Gobert’s absence.
Prediction: Jazz 113, Pistons 103
Utah Jazz vs Detroit Pistons TV Channel
Fans in Detroit should tune initially Sports Detroit, while fans in Salt Lake City can turn to AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain.
Utah Jazz Schedule and Next Game
The Jazz return to Salt Lake City for a matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers on January 12. After that, it’s a four day break before a contest with the Denver Nuggets on January 16.
After that, they’ll face off with the Los Angeles Lakers on the 18th. They’ll play the Houston Rockets the following night, before coming full circle for a rematch with the Detroit Pistons on January 20.