NBA · Sat, Jan 10 · 9:40 PM

Charlotte Hornets at Utah Jazz

Delta Center

GARY'S PICK

NBA@ Jazz· -112

TALE OF THE TAPE Utah Jazz Charlotte Hornets Record 13-24 13-24 Net Rating -5.5 → -1.5 eFG% 55.8% ← 53.6% Pace 103.7 ← 100.5 Key Injuries Markkanen/Kessler Plumlee (OUT) Gary's Take The market is giving the Utah Jazz far too much credit for playing at the Delta Center, ignoring the fact that they are essentially waving the white flag tonight. By resting Lauri Markkanen, Utah is voluntarily removing nearly 28 points per game from an offense that already struggles for consistency. When you combine that with the season-long absence of Walker Kessler, the Jazz are left without their primary scoring engine and their only legitimate rim protector. The data is clear: Utah is 0-5 this season when both are out, sporting a defensive rating that would rank dead last in the league by a wide margin. Charlotte, meanwhile, is trending in the opposite direction. While they’ve had their share of road struggles, the Hornets are getting a massive personnel boost tonight with the return of Ryan Kalkbrenner and the season debut of Grant Williams. This adds much-needed size and defensive versatility to a roster that already features a dynamic scoring trio in LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Miles Bridges. Rookie Kon Knueppel has also emerged as a legitimate threat, averaging nearly 20 points per game and providing the floor spacing necessary to exploit Utah's porous perimeter defense. The Jazz offense will likely devolve into a high-volume, low-efficiency night for Keyonte George, who simply doesn't have the supporting cast to keep pace with Charlotte's multi-pronged attack. The Hornets already blew this team out by 23 points earlier this season when Utah was healthier, and I expect a similar result here. Charlotte has the offensive firepower to turn this into a double-digit victory against a Jazz squad that lacks the interior presence to stop them. Lay the points with the Hornets as they capitalize on Utah's depleted rotation.

TALE OF THE TAPE

Utah Jazz Charlotte Hornets Record 13-24 13-24 Net Rating -5.5 → -1.5 eFG% 55.8% ← 53.6% Pace 103.7 ← 100.5 Key Injuries Markkanen/Kessler Plumlee (OUT)

Gary's Take The market is giving the Utah Jazz far too much credit for playing at the Delta Center, ignoring the fact that they are essentially waving the white flag tonight. By resting Lauri Markkanen, Utah is voluntarily removing nearly 28 points per game from an offense that already struggles for consistency. When you combine that with the season-long absence of Walker Kessler, the Jazz are left without their primary scoring engine and their only legitimate rim protector. The data is clear: Utah is 0-5 this season when both are out, sporting a defensive rating that would rank dead last in the league by a wide margin.

Charlotte, meanwhile, is trending in the opposite direction. While they’ve had their share of road struggles, the Hornets are getting a massive personnel boost tonight with the return of Ryan Kalkbrenner and the season debut of Grant Williams. This adds much-needed size and defensive versatility to a roster that already features a dynamic scoring trio in LaMelo Ball, Brandon Miller, and Miles Bridges. Rookie Kon Knueppel has also emerged as a legitimate threat, averaging nearly 20 points per game and providing the floor spacing necessary to exploit Utah's porous perimeter defense.

The Jazz offense will likely devolve into a high-volume, low-efficiency night for Keyonte George, who simply doesn't have the supporting cast to keep pace with Charlotte's multi-pronged attack. The Hornets already blew this team out by 23 points earlier this season when Utah was healthier, and I expect a similar result here. Charlotte has the offensive firepower to turn this into a double-digit victory against a Jazz squad that lacks the interior presence to stop them. Lay the points with the Hornets as they capitalize on Utah's depleted rotation.

The pick & result

Published pick: Charlotte Hornets -5.5 -112
Published odds: -112
Result: Won
Final score: 150-95

Odds are the American price printed with this pick, not a current offer. Wins, losses and pushes remain on the public record; a missing grade is not a win.

The read

TALE OF THE TAPE

Utah Jazz Charlotte Hornets Record 13-24 13-24 Net Rating -5.5 → -1.5 eFG% 55.8% ← 53.6% Pace 103.7 ← 100.5 Key Injuries Markkanen/Kessler Plumlee (OUT)

Injuries noted

Charlotte Hornets: Mason Plumlee (Out) — Plumlee had missed four consecutive games with a strained right groin before going under the knife. The veteran center will be sidelined until at least mid-February. While he's sidelined, PJ Hall will likely step into the third-string center role behind Ryan Kalkbrenner (elbow) and Moussa Diabate.; Pat Connaughton (Questionable) — Connaughton is battling through an illness that puts him in jeopardy of playing Saturday. However, his absence wouldn't make much of an impact given that he's been out of the Hornets' rotation as of late.

Utah Jazz: Georges Niang (Out) — Niang has yet to make his season debut due to a stress reaction in his left foot. The veteran forward is slated to be re-evaluated in the near future, though he should be considered week-to-week until the Jazz offer an update on his timeline for a return.; Walker Kessler (Out For Season) — This is a devastating blow for the Jazz and for Kessler's fantasy managers given his high price in drafts.; Airious Bailey (Out) — Bailey will miss a second consecutive game while nursing a left hip flexor strain, the same injury which caused him to miss the Jazz's five games prior to their overtime loss to the Thunder on Wednesday. Bailey's next opportunity to play is Monday against the Cavaliers, though given how long he's been dealing with his injury, the Jazz could opt to play things cautiously with the rookie first-rounder. Brice Sensabaugh should continue to see additional playing time for as long as Bailey is sidelined.; Jusuf Nurkic (Out) — Nurkic will miss a second straight game due to a toe sprain on his left foot. His absence will mean more opportunities for Kevin Love and Kyle Filipowski. Nurkic's next chance to play will come Monday at Cleveland.; Elijah Harkless (Out) — Harkless played a season-high 21 minutes, sliding into the rotation for just the third time this season. While he did provide some nice energy on the defensive end, there is no indication that Harkless will be moving into a more permanent role anytime soon.; Lauri Markkanen (Out) — Markkanen will get Saturday night off, and his next opportunity to play will come Monday against the Cavaliers. With the 28-year-old forward unavailable, Cody Williams, Taylor Hendricks and Kyle Anderson are candidates to see increased playing time.

About this analysis

Who made it: Gary AI, an AI sports-analysis product operated by Gary A.I. LLC. No human reviewer is claimed unless one is explicitly named.
Published data: Daily picks first stored January 10, 2026 at 4:34 PM ET.
Odds record: The pick receipt shows the price printed in the published ticket. The matchup market and line ladder provide separate market context. Source names were not retained with this pick.
Accountability: Read the editorial standards, source policy, and corrections process.

Props on this game

GARY'S PICK
COLLIN SEXTONPTS OVER 13.5
NBACharlotte Hornets· -117
✓ CASHED · ACTUAL 15
Listen, the books are giving us a gift with this line because they're looking at Sexton's season average instead of the fire in his gut tonight. This is Collin's first trip back to Salt Lake City since the Jazz shipped him off to Charlotte in June, and if you know anything about 'Young Bull,' you know he's been circling this date in red ink. He's in a contract year, playing with a chip on his shoulder the size of the Wasatch Range, and he's facing a Jazz defense that is effectively a layup line right now. Utah is dead last in the league in points allowed, and without their primary rim protectors, Sexton is going to live in the paint. I expect him to be ultra-aggressive from the jump, looking to prove to his former front office that they made a massive mistake. This isn't just a game; it's a statement, and 14 points is a bar he'll clear before the fourth quarter even starts.
Collin Sexton
Pts over 13.5
-117 · CASHED · ACTUAL 15
Charlotte Hornets
Listen, the books are giving us a gift with this line because they're looking at Sexton's season average instead of the fire in his gut tonight. This is Collin's first trip back to Salt Lake City since the Jazz shipped him off to Charlotte in June, and if you know anything about 'Young Bull,' you know he's been circling this date in red ink.
He's in a contract year, playing with a chip on his shoulder the size of the Wasatch Range, and he's facing a Jazz defense that is effectively a layup line right now. Utah is dead last in the league in points allowed, and without their primary rim protectors, Sexton is going to live in the paint.
I expect him to be ultra-aggressive from the jump, looking to prove to his former front office that they made a massive mistake. This isn't just a game; it's a statement, and 14 points is a bar he'll clear before the fourth quarter even starts.
GARY'S PICK
KEYONTE GEORGEPTS UNDER 27.5
NBAUtah Jazz· -120
✓ CASHED · ACTUAL 4
I know the narrative—Lauri Markkanen is out, so Keyonte is going to take forty shots and score fifty, right? Wrong. The books have over-adjusted this line into the stratosphere, and we're going to take advantage of that inflation. George is a talented young guard, but asking him to jump from a 15.6 PPG average over his last five games to 28 tonight is a massive stretch, even with the usage vacuum. Charlotte's defense isn't elite, but they'll focus their entire game plan on blitzing George and forcing the Jazz's secondary options to beat them. When a star goes out, the usage gets redistributed, but it rarely all lands on one guy's plate to the tune of a 12-point jump over his recent average. I see a high-volume night for Keyonte, but efficiency will be the struggle, and he'll likely finish in the low 20s. Take the under and let the public chase the 'usage' ghost.
Keyonte George
Pts under 27.5
-120 · CASHED · ACTUAL 4
Utah Jazz
I know the narrative—Lauri Markkanen is out, so Keyonte is going to take forty shots and score fifty, right? Wrong. The books have over-adjusted this line into the stratosphere, and we're going to take advantage of that inflation. George is a talented young guard, but asking him to jump from a 15.6 PPG average over his last five games to 28 tonight is a massive stretch, even with the usage vacuum.
Charlotte's defense isn't elite, but they'll focus their entire game plan on blitzing George and forcing the Jazz's secondary options to beat them. When a star goes out, the usage gets redistributed, but it rarely all lands on one guy's plate to the tune of a 12-point jump over his recent average. I see a high-volume night for Keyonte, but efficiency will be the struggle, and he'll likely finish in the low 20s.
Take the under and let the public chase the 'usage' ghost.
GARY'S PICK
KON KNUEPPELPTS OVER 19.5
NBACharlotte Hornets· -106
LOST · ACTUAL 12
If you haven't been paying attention to what this kid is doing in Charlotte, you're missing out on one of the best shooting displays from a rookie in years. Knueppel is a certified flamethrower, averaging nearly four triples a game on elite efficiency, and tonight he gets to face a Utah perimeter defense that is consistently out of rotation. With the Jazz missing their primary interior presence, they're going to have to collapse on drives, which is going to leave Knueppel wide open on the wings all night long. He's already hit 20+ in two of his last five games, and in a game with a massive 237.5 total, there are going to be plenty of possessions to go around. I see him getting hot early and the Hornets feeding the hot hand against a Jazz team that simply doesn't have the wing defenders to track him for 32 minutes. 20 points is well within his wheelhouse in this track meet.
Kon Knueppel
Pts over 19.5
-106 · LOST · ACTUAL 12
Charlotte Hornets
If you haven't been paying attention to what this kid is doing in Charlotte, you're missing out on one of the best shooting displays from a rookie in years. Knueppel is a certified flamethrower, averaging nearly four triples a game on elite efficiency, and tonight he gets to face a Utah perimeter defense that is consistently out of rotation.
With the Jazz missing their primary interior presence, they're going to have to collapse on drives, which is going to leave Knueppel wide open on the wings all night long. He's already hit 20+ in two of his last five games, and in a game with a massive 237.5 total, there are going to be plenty of possessions to go around.
I see him getting hot early and the Hornets feeding the hot hand against a Jazz team that simply doesn't have the wing defenders to track him for 32 minutes. 20 points is well within his wheelhouse in this track meet.
GARY'S PICK
MILES BRIDGESREBOUNDS OVER 6.5
NBACharlotte Hornets· -124
9:40 PM ET
This is a pure structural play based on the decimated state of the Utah frontcourt. With Markkanen and Nurkic sidelined, the Jazz are effectively playing 'small ball' by necessity, leaving them incredibly vulnerable on the glass. Miles Bridges is a physical specimen who loves to crash the boards from the perimeter, and tonight he's going to find himself being boxed out by guys three inches shorter and thirty pounds lighter. He's already shown he can clear this line, snagging 8 and 9 boards in two of his last five, and the game environment tonight is perfect for a rebounding over. High pace means more missed shots, and with Utah's lack of size, Bridges should have a field day cleaning up the defensive glass and hunting second-chance opportunities. He’s going to be the most athletic guy in the paint for long stretches of this game, and I expect him to dominate the boards as a result.
Miles Bridges
Rebounds over 6.5
-124 · 9:40 PM ET
Charlotte Hornets
This is a pure structural play based on the decimated state of the Utah frontcourt. With Markkanen and Nurkic sidelined, the Jazz are effectively playing 'small ball' by necessity, leaving them incredibly vulnerable on the glass.
Miles Bridges is a physical specimen who loves to crash the boards from the perimeter, and tonight he's going to find himself being boxed out by guys three inches shorter and thirty pounds lighter. He's already shown he can clear this line, snagging 8 and 9 boards in two of his last five, and the game environment tonight is perfect for a rebounding over.
High pace means more missed shots, and with Utah's lack of size, Bridges should have a field day cleaning up the defensive glass and hunting second-chance opportunities. He’s going to be the most athletic guy in the paint for long stretches of this game, and I expect him to dominate the boards as a result.
GARY'S PICK
BRICE SENSABAUGHPTS OVER 14.5
NBAUtah Jazz· -124
✓ CASHED · ACTUAL 26
With Lauri Markkanen officially ruled out, someone in this Jazz lineup has to put the ball in the basket, and Sensabaugh is the most natural scorer left in the rotation. His minutes have been trending upward significantly, hitting 30+ in his last two outings, and his confidence is clearly growing after a 20-point outburst just a few games ago. He's a three-level scorer who doesn't shy away from high-volume nights, and against a Charlotte defense that ranks near the bottom of the league, he’s going to have every opportunity to hunt his shot. The Jazz are going to need his floor spacing and shot-creation to keep this game competitive, and I expect him to see a significant spike in field goal attempts tonight. 15 points isn't a high bar for a guy who's going to be the secondary focal point of the offense in a high-scoring game. He's ready for the spotlight.
Brice Sensabaugh
Pts over 14.5
-124 · CASHED · ACTUAL 26
Utah Jazz
With Lauri Markkanen officially ruled out, someone in this Jazz lineup has to put the ball in the basket, and Sensabaugh is the most natural scorer left in the rotation. His minutes have been trending upward significantly, hitting 30+ in his last two outings, and his confidence is clearly growing after a 20-point outburst just a few games ago.
He's a three-level scorer who doesn't shy away from high-volume nights, and against a Charlotte defense that ranks near the bottom of the league, he’s going to have every opportunity to hunt his shot. The Jazz are going to need his floor spacing and shot-creation to keep this game competitive, and I expect him to see a significant spike in field goal attempts tonight.
15 points isn't a high bar for a guy who's going to be the secondary focal point of the offense in a high-scoring game. He's ready for the spotlight.

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