New Orleans Pelicans vs Utah Jazz Picks and Predictions for Thursday February 26 2026

By: Kim Smith Published 02/26/2026, 02:10 AM ET

The New Orleans Pelicans travel to the Delta Center on Thursday, February 26, 2026, to take on the Utah Jazz. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:00 PM ET, and the game will be broadcast on GCSEN. This Western Conference matchup features two teams near the bottom of the standings, both looking to build momentum after inconsistent stretches. At the time of this writing, the odds were not released. Be sure to check out our free NBA picks for today’s action.

Pelicans Trying to Build on Recent Wins

New Orleans enters this matchup at 17-42 overall and just 6-21 on the road. The Pelicans recently won over Golden State 113-109, Philadelphia 126-111, and Sacramento 120-94, while losing to Milwaukee 139-118 and Miami 123-111. That 3-2 stretch shows flashes of offensive capability, though defensive consistency remains an issue.

On the season, the Pelicans are averaging 114.8 points per game while allowing 120.4 points per contest. They shoot 46% from the field and average 43.6 rebounds and 25.0 assists per game. Defensively, they contribute 4.7 blocks and 8.8 steals per contest.

The key issue for New Orleans is their defense. Allowing over 120 points per game puts tremendous pressure on their offense. While they can score in bursts, their inability to string together stops often undermines their efforts, especially on the road.

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Jazz Struggling to Contain Opponents

Utah comes into this contest at 18-40 overall and 11-18 at home. The Jazz recently lost to Houston 125-105, Memphis 123-114, and Portland 135-119, while earning wins over Sacramento 121-93 and Miami 115-111. That 2-3 stretch mirrors many of their season-long challenges.

The Jazz are averaging 118.0 points per game but allowing a league-worst 125.9 points per contest. They shoot 47% from the field and average 44.2 rebounds and 29.9 assists per game, highlighting strong ball movement. Utah also averages 3.5 blocks and 8.3 steals per contest.

Utah’s offense is not the problem. Nearly 30 assists per game show excellent distribution, but giving up almost 126 points per game is a major concern. If they cannot improve defensively, they will continue to be involved in high-scoring games.

New Orleans Pelicans vs Utah Jazz Pick

Pelicans vs Jazz Pick

Pick: Utah Jazz Moneyline

Despite their defensive struggles, Utah’s superior offensive production and home-court advantage give them the edge. The Pelicans’ 6-21 road record makes it difficult to trust them in this spot.

Pelicans vs Jazz Total Pick

Pick: Over 235 Points

I’m leaning heavily toward the over in this matchup. Both teams rank near the bottom defensively, allowing over 120 points per game. With Utah averaging 118 and New Orleans close behind at 115, this has all the makings of a high-scoring, up-tempo contest.

Final Score Prediction: Jazz 121, Pelicans 116

This prediction was written before the completion of game play on Wednesday.