Feb. 28, 2026, 12:26 p.m. ET

The New Orleans Pelicans (18-42) visit the Utah Jazz (18-41) Saturday. Tip-off from Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, is at 9:30 p.m. ET. Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Pelicans vs. Jazz odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.

Season series: Pelicans lead 1-0

The teams played Thursday in Utah. The Pelicans picked up a 129-118 win as 6.5-point favorites, with the over (245.5) cashing. F Saddiq Bey scored 42 points, and New Orleans led by as many as 27 points, as the Jazz were missing F Lauri Markkanen, C Jusuf Nurkic and G Keyonte George.

The Pelicans have won their last 3 games, their last 2 since the return of G Dejounte Murray from an Achilles injury. They are 5-2 in their last 7 games.

The Jazz have lost 4 games in a row, have lost Nurkic and F Jaren Jackson Jr. to season-ending surgeries, and Markkanen is expected to miss about 2 weeks.

Watch the NBA on Fubo!Pelicans at Jazz odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 12:15 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Pelicans -250 (bet $250 to win $100) | Jazz +200 (bet $100 to win $200)Against the spread (ATS): Pelicans -6.5 (-102) | Jazz +6.5 (-118)Over/Under (O/U): 245.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)Pelicans at Jazz key injuries

Pelicans

C Yves Missi (calf) questionableF Trey Murphy III (shoulder) outG Dejounte Murray (reconditioning) out

Jazz

G Keyonte George (ankle) questionableF Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) out for seasonC Walker Kessler (shoulder) out for seasonF Lauri Markkanen (hip) outC Jusuf Nurkic (nose) out for seasonG Vince Williams Jr. (knee) out for season

For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.

Pelicans at Jazz picks and predictionsPrediction

Jazz 124, Pelicans 118

After coming back for 2 games, Murray is sitting this game out, while George could suit up for the injury-riddled Jazz.

The Pelicans’ 3-game winning streak is their second-longest of the year. They won 5 straight earlier this season, but 4 of those 5 wins were at home. They are 7-21 on the road and won their last 2. They have not won more than 2 consecutive away games this season.

The Jazz are 11-19 at home.

BET JAZZ (+200).

The Jazz are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games but they went 6-0 ATS in the 6 games prior to that.

All 27 of the Pelicans’ ATS losses have been outright losses. The way to play this is either bet the Pelicans to cover or for the Jazz to win outright. Expecting the Jazz to upset New Orleans, the plus odds on the ML make way more sense than the spread.

PASS.

The total in Thursday’s meeting was 247. Only 2 of the Pelicans’ last 7 games have surpassed 245 total points.

Only 2 of the Jazz’ last 8 have surpassed 245 total points. However, 4 of the last 5 meetings between the teams have cleared 245, but those were all Pelicans wins.

BET UNDER 245.5 (-110).

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