The New Orleans Pelicans head into Salt Lake City to take on the Utah Jazz on Thursday night, with both franchises struggling to find consistency in what has been a long season. These are two of the bottom three teams in the Western Conference standings this year, but someone will get a win when this contest takes place at Delta Center. Before tip-off, find out who I think that will be with my Pelicans vs Jazz prediction in the NBA.
Date & Time: Thursday, February 26, 2026, 9:00 PM ET
Venue: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
Broadcast: NBA League Pass
Key Storylines
The Jazz are looking to stop a three-game losing streak and gain some traction at home after recent struggles.
The Pelicans have won two straight games, with both of those wins coming at home leading up to this matchup on the road.
Injuries are a huge factor going into this game. The Jazz are without Jaren Jackson Jr., while Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George are questionable. Yves Missi and Trey Murphy III are out for the Pels.
Key Players
Utah Jazz
Lauri Markkanen – Utah’s leading scorer at roughly 26.7 points per game and 7.0 rebounds, Markkanen provides the Jazz with elite scoring efficiency and floor spacing. His ability to hit from deep and pull up off the bounce gives Utah a consistent offensive advantage if he plays.
Keyonte George – Averaging around 23.8 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 6.8 assists, he is the Jazz’s primary playmaker. His involvement in pick-and-roll actions and scoring creation is essential for this team’s pace and rhythm.
Isaiah Collier – Providing around 7.3 assists per contest, his ability to facilitate and keep Utah moving is key, especially with other roster absences.
New Orleans Pelicans
Zion Williamson – Averaging roughly 21.7 points and providing a strong presence in the paint, Williamson’s inside scoring is a major offensive weapon. He anchors New Orleans’s half-court sets and provides finishes at the rim with consistency.
Derik Queen – Contributing around 7.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, Queen’s multi-faceted game helps the Pelicans make plays on both ends of the floor.
Stat Comparison
Stat
Pelicans
Jazz
Points per game
114.8
118.0
Points allowed per game
120.4
125.9
Team Field Goal %
46%
47%
Rebounds Per Game
43.7
44.2
Assists Per Game
24.9
29.9
Head-to-Head & Betting Trends
This is the first of three regular-season games the Pelicans and Jazz will play this year, with each carrying huge NBA Draft Lottery implications.
The Pelicans are 32-26-1 against the spread this season.
Utah is 31-27 against the spread going into this contest.
Pelicans vs Jazz Model Projection
Score Projection: New Orleans 116 – Utah 120 ATS PRO
Win Probability: New Orleans 45%, Utah 55% ATS PRO
Final Thoughts
There are clearly better NBA games to bet on on Thursday night, as we could see several players announced out between now and tip-off in Utah. I lean toward the Jazz to cover the spread as a home underdog, as my projections have them winning this game, but I would urge bettors to keep an eye on injury news leading up to the start of this one before making any official decisions in the betting markets.
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