Jazz vs Pacers

Benedict Mathurin's recent scoring burst has been a key ingredient in the Pacers' great run, but is questionable for Friday night as Indiana hosts the limping Jazz. The Blue and Gold are surging toward playoff positioning and won't take their foot off the pedal against a Utah team that's dropped seven straight. With Lauri Markkanen still sidelined due to a knee injury and Keyonte George struggling with consistency, the rebuilding Jazz enter Gainbridge Fieldhouse severely outgunned. Meanwhile, Tyrese Haliburton, who averages over 20 points and 10 assists per game and historically feasts on weak perimeter defenses like Utah's, should dictate the tempo early. With Indiana owning one of the league's fastest paces and the Jazz fielding one of its worst defensive ratings, the Pacers are primed to roll. While the -1600 moneyline offers low return, this pick gets a “B” grade due to high confidence and playoff urgency, though low odds diminish the value. Odds and availability are subject to change.

Tyrese Haliburton and the high-flying Indiana Pacers enter Friday’s home matchup riding a two-game winning streak, while the reeling Utah Jazz have now dropped seven straight and continue to slide through a brutal second half of the season. The Blue and Gold are surging into the postseason mix, currently fourth in the East, and will be looking to push the tempo against a Jazz team that ranks near the bottom of the league in defensive efficiency. Key Jazz contributors like Lauri Markkanen remain sidelined, and Jordan Clarkson sitting out as well, leaving the young Utah core overmatched. Expect Indiana’s offensive engine—led by Haliburton and supported by Siakam and Turner—to dictate a breakneck pace. Historically, Haliburton has lit up the Jazz from deep, and with Utah's defense crumbling late in the season, another shootout is likely. While Utah struggles, they’ve still been putting up respectable scoring totals, with young guns like Keyonte George showing flashes. Given both teams’ trends — with the Pacers hitting the over in five of their last six and the Jazz giving up an average of 123 PPG in that span — we like the scoreboard to keep ticking. This over sits at a reasonable 235.5 despite the Pacers’ ability to explode offensively and the Jazz’s consistent defensive breakdowns. We’d give this pick a solid B — not a sure thing, but loaded with value as long as Indiana controls the game flow. Odds and availability are subject to change.

With the Blue & Gold chasing playoff positioning and the struggling Jazz limping toward the lottery, this matchup heavily favors Indiana at home. The Pacers are riding a three-game winning streak and remain firmly in the Eastern Conference playoff picture, giving Rick Carlisle every reason to keep his starters active to secure seeding. In stark contrast, the Salt Lake City crew has dropped seven straight and currently holds the NBA's worst record. Utah's rookie-heavy rotation and the recent sidelining of Lauri Markkanen (knee) and Jordan Clarkson (back) have tanked their competitiveness. Historically, Tyrese Haliburton has sliced through Utah’s weak perimeter defense, notably posting a 20-assist night against them last season. Even if the game trends toward garbage time, Indiana’s depth has enough to cover against a team mostly evaluating G-League-level talent. While a 16-point spread is hefty, the motivation disparity and talent gap suggest the Hoosiers should cruise to a statement win. Odds and availability are subject to change.