Chicago Bulls versus Utah Jazz Pick Prediction NBA Pro Basketball Odds Preview 3-8-2013

The 32-29 Utah Jazz will travel to face the 34-27 Chicago Bulls in an NBA pro basketball game on Friday night. Tip off time from Chicago is scheduled for 8PM Eastern Time with national television coverage provided by the NBA League Pass Channel.

The betting odds from this NBA pro basketball game will come out on Friday afternoon as Al Jefferson is listed as questionable for the Jazz with an ankle problem. On the Bulls side Luol Deng is probable with a hand injury.

The teams met back on February 8th with the Bulls posting the 93-89 road win at Utah as a +4 ½ point underdog. The total landed under 184 points.

Utah has a road record this season of 10-21. They lose their second straight and fifth in six tries following a 104-101 road defeat on Wednesday to the Cleveland Cavaliers as a +1 ½ point underdog. The game finished over 201 ½ points.

The Jazz get outscored 36-25 in the final period in the loss. They shot 43.7% from the field along with 9 of 19 from three. Utah allowed the Cavaliers 41.1% shooting and lose because the allowed Cleveland to pull down 11 more rebounds. Gordon Hayward came off the bench for 25 points and 7 assists on 8 of 17 from the field. On the road this season the Jazz has not defended well. They allow 102 points and 47.9% shooting in their 31 road games this season.

The Bulls on their home court is 17-14 on the current campaign. The Bulls lose their second straight after a 101-83 road defeat to the San Antonio Spurs on Wednesday night as a +8 ½ point underdog. The game went under 190 ½ points. Chicago gets outscored 54-31 in the second half in defeat. The team shoots just 36.7% from the floor and makes 9 of 20 from beyond the arc. The Bulls allowed the Spurs to connect on 54.1% from the floor and allowed San Antonio to pull down seven more rebounds. The Bulls put up great defensive numbers this season ranking in the top five in all three important areas. But without Derrick Rose the team has struggled big time on offense. They average 92.5 points a game ranking 28th and third to last in the NBA. This hurts Chicago the most when they face the elite teams from the league.