Utah Jazz vs Charlotte Hornets Prediction: A high-scorer in making

The NBA midseason is here and we have entered a territory where we are closer to the trade deadline. We are in a phase where the management of various teams is looking to find options through the market and figure out which players they can bring into the fold to improve the situation. There are teams that can even blow up their core right now or wait till the offseason. One of those teams seems to be Charlotte Hornets, they will visit the Utah Jazz here.

The Jazz comes into the affair a 106:117 loss against the Brooklyn Nets despite a 29 points performance by Jordan Clarkson. This 106 total is their lowest in around 13 games and usually, Utah scores are in the excess of 115. However, a tight Nets defense kept them at bay while the Jazz was exposed on the defensive end. If they had a better defense, their record will be much better than 24 losses and 25 losses.

 There was also a five-game losing streak where they lost games by a margin of one to five points, meaning they don’t close out well and that is because they allow easy buckets regularly. Lauri Markkanen is having a breakout season, Jordan Clarkson has done a great scoring job, and Mike Conley has been a terrific passer but the lack of size has hurt the Jazz repeatedly in their guard-heavy rotation.

The Hornets enter the fray after beating the Hawks 122:114 as Terry Rozier inserted 34 points which gives them two wins in a row. This is only the second time the team has won two in a row and the last instance was in late November. This has been a stressful season for Charlotte fans as they have managed just 13 wins and the loss heap has reached 34. Their main option LaMelo Ball has played in 22 of the 47 games but the problems are the same with him too.

One big loss the team suffered was not having Miles Bridges, who was their 20+ points scorer last season and without him, the frontline has been underperforming. Like last season, their defense has struggled massively but last season, they also had one of the best offensive units. At this point, the management may require unloading players and they have a lot options that will draw interest.

LaMelo is questionable for the Hornets and although they have won two consecutive games without him, they remain a vulnerable squad for most parts. On the other hand, the Jazz is nothing clinical but they have a better-oiled unit than the Hornets and have produced a much more efficient and balanced offense. That’s why I’d back the Jazz to come on top here with a scorleine of 128:118.