New Orleans Pelicans vs Utah Jazz Picks and Predictions for Friday October 23 2026
New Orleans had Indiana right where they wanted them Wednesday. The Pelicans led by ten at halftime, had the home crowd behind them, and looked ready to start the season with a win. Then they let it get away. Indiana came back and won 123-120. That’s a frustrating one, especially when you’ve already done the hard work of building a lead. New Orleans now have to travel to Utah, where the Jazz are dealing with their own opening-night disappointment.
Utah lost 123-103 at Memphis. Twenty points, and it could have been worse. The Jazz were outrebounded 55-38 and watched Memphis take control with an 18-4 run in the third quarter. The Pelicans visit the Jazz at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Friday, October 23, 2026. Tipoff is scheduled for 9:30 PM ET. A FanDuel market snapshot lists Utah as a 5.5-point favorite, with the total at 242.5. The Jazz are around -196 on the moneyline and New Orleans are +164. You can find more predictions in our free NBA picks.
New Orleans Pelicans Let A Good Opportunity Slip Away
New Orleans are 0-1 after losing 123-120 to Indiana Wednesday. The Pelicans led 66-56 at halftime, which should have put them in a good position. Instead, Indiana worked its way back and took control late. New Orleans had chances to win in the final possessions but couldn’t finish. It’s not the sort of result you want before heading out on the road.
The Pelicans scored 120, so the offense wasn’t the main problem. They got into the paint, found scoring from their main players, and had Indiana chasing for much of the first half. The trouble came when they needed stops. Indiana scored 123 and did enough late to steal the game. Utah aren’t as polished offensively as the Pacers, but the Jazz have some dangerous players. New Orleans need to defend better when the game gets tight.
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Dejounte Murray led the Pelicans with 23 points against Indiana, while Zion Williamson added 22. Williamson even knocked down two three-pointers before halftime, which isn’t something opponents can simply ignore. The Pelicans need him attacking the basket, though. That’s where he causes the most trouble. Murray’s right toe has appeared on the injury report, so his availability needs checking. New Orleans would miss his scoring and ballhandling if he couldn’t go.
Utah Jazz Got Pushed Around In Memphis
Utah are 0-1 after losing 123-103 to Memphis Wednesday. The Jazz were still hanging around before Memphis made its big third-quarter run. Then things got away from them. Utah were outrebounded 55-38, which tells you plenty about how that game went. Memphis got the better of the physical battle and didn’t give the Jazz much chance to recover.
The Jazz scored only 103 points, and that’s a concern against a New Orleans team that just put up 120. Utah have to find better shots, particularly when opponents start pressing their ballhandlers. The Pelicans aren’t exactly coming off a great defensive performance, so there should be opportunities. But Utah can’t afford another night where the opposition dominates the glass. New Orleans have enough size and strength to make that a problem again.
Keyonte George led Utah with 22 points against Memphis. Lauri Markkanen added 18 points and nine rebounds, while Jaren Jackson Jr. scored 15 before fouling out. The Jazz need more from those players Friday, particularly Markkanen as a scoring option. Jusuf Nurkic remains out with a foot injury, which hurts Utah’s interior depth. His absence was noticeable against Memphis, and New Orleans will certainly try to take advantage of it.
New Orleans Pelicans vs Utah Jazz Picks and Predictions
New Orleans Pelicans +5.5 (-110)
I’ll take New Orleans with the points. Utah are at home, and playing in Salt Lake City is never the easiest road assignment. The Jazz also have enough scoring talent to bounce back from that Memphis defeat. But I don’t like what I saw from Utah on the glass. They were outrebounded by 17, and Nurkic is unavailable. New Orleans scored 120 against Indiana and led by ten at halftime before losing late. The Pelicans have their own problems, but five and a half points feels generous in a game between two teams trying to recover from opening-night defeats.
Under 242.5 Points (-110)
I’m taking the under. New Orleans and Indiana combined for 243, so the Pelicans have already played a game above this number. But Utah managed only 103 against Memphis, and the Jazz were having trouble getting good shots. The total is asking for another very high-scoring night. I can see New Orleans getting into the 115-point range, but Utah will have to improve considerably to push this into the mid-240s. The Jazz should score more at home, although I’m not convinced they’ll score enough. New Orleans 116, Utah 113.
Final Picks: New Orleans Pelicans +5.5 (-110) and Under 242.5 Points (-110)
This preview was completed October 22, 2026. Betting lines, injuries, and starting lineups may change before tipoff.
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