Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Lakers Prediction, NBA Odds
The Jazz travel to LA riding a six-game straight up win streak after rolling to an easy 135-101 win over the Houston Rockets on Monday night. The Lakers return home on the heels of Monday’s 117-115 loss to the Golden State Warriors that marks their 12th defeat in 17 outings.
The Jazz have emerged as 5.5-point favourites in this Western Conference matchup, while the total has been pegged at a lofty 227.
Jazz vs. Lakers NBA Betting Odds
Wednesday night’s matchup at Crypto.com Arena marks the second of three schedule regular season meetings between these clubs. The Lakers took home a 101-95 win as 5.5-point home underdogs when the Jazz visited Los Angeles on January 17, and have now claimed victory in six of their past eight meetings with Utah. Expectations of a high-scoring contest on Wednesday defy a current trend that has seen the UNDER go 3-1 when these teams meet. Indeed, at least one of these teams has failed to reach the century mark in five of the past seven head-to-head contests. That has produced head-to-heads results that have been far from close, with the Lakers claiming victory by an average margin of 10.7 points over their six recent wins, and the Jazz winning by double-digit margins in their two most recent victories.
The Jazz have also been dominant overall during their current 6-0 run, with four of those wins coming by a margin of at least 15 points. That has generated a steady 5-0 run against the spread. However, Utah has struggled on the road, losing five straight, a run that started with their last month’s loss in Los Angeles. The Lakers have endured hard luck during their current swoon, with three of their past four defeats coming by a margin of two or fewer points. LA has also struggled this season as a home underdog, going 2-4 straight up and against the spread, with each of those defeats coming by wide double-digit margins.
Utah Jazz
The Jazz will be aiming to build off their second highest scoring performance of the season. The club never trailed on their way to Monday’s rout of the Rockets, racking up an impressive 78 points before recess. That marks a dramatic turnaround after mustering just 44 first-half points in last Friday’s 114-99 win over Orlando. Donovan Mitchell and Hassan Whiteside have powered the attack. Mitchell has averaged 27 points while leading the team in scoring over the past two games, and Whiteside has averaged 16.3 rebounds over his past three outings and recorded double-doubles in his past two.
Los Angeles Lakers
Injuries remain a massive concern for the Lakers, who now find themselves in ninth place in the Western Conference standings. LeBron James has continued to steadily produce, and has led the team in points, rebounds, and assists in each of the past three games. However, King James is battling a knee injury that leaves him questionable for Wednesday’s contest. Carmelo Anthony and Avery Bradley also remain sidelined by injury. But hopes are high that a nagging wrist injury will not keep Anthony Davis out of the lineup versus Utah.
UTA
LAL