New Orleans Pelicans at Utah Jazz on Thursday, April 8 is about as close to a coin flip as the ratings get, with the Jazz at only 50%. Small things like rest, health and shooting variance should decide it.
Why it is so close
The Win Meter reads the Jazz 50%, with a projected score of New Orleans Pelicans 115, Utah Jazz 115. The rating gap is 97 points in favor of the Pelicans, and home court and rest add about 100 rating points for the Jazz on top of that.
Readings in this range leave plenty of room for the other side. About 50 times in 100 games like this, the Pelicans would win.
Recent form
The Pelicans are 0-3 this season and 0-5 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -8.4. The Jazz are 1-3 this season and 1-4 in their last 5 games, with an average margin of -11.4.
The Pelicans were beaten 144-118 on the road by BOS not long ago.
The Jazz were beaten 131-107 on the road by LAL not long ago.
Offense against defense
The Pelicans score 124.7 a game and allow 128. The Jazz score 112.8 and allow 121. Pairing each offense with the other defense points to about 122.9 for the Pelicans and 120.4 for the Jazz, a simple check on the Win Meter's projection.
The Pelicans have defended better than the Jazz have scored, so the Jazz may need to find offense elsewhere.
Injuries to watch
Out: Yves Missi (NOP), expected back Nov 2, 2026, Jusuf Nurkic (UTA), expected back Nov 4, 2026, and Trey Alexander (UTA), expected back Oct 28, 2026.
Day to day or questionable: Jaxson Hayes (UTA), Lauri Markkanen (UTA), and Jaren Jackson Jr. (UTA). Their status can change before tip-off.
The season series
In our records of recent meetings, the Pelicans lead 6-1, with the Pelicans outscoring the Jazz by an average of 9 points per game. The last meeting was NOP 119, UTA 120.