After all of the offseason hype, the Los Angeles Lakers struggled out of the gate in a 112-102 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers in their season opener. The good news for the Lakers is that things can’t get much worse for them moving forward. The bad news is that their next contest will be against another tough opponent.

Can the Lakers rebound and get things back on track on Friday? An 0-2 start would make a lot of Lakers fans very nervous about the direction of the team.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

Utah split its four-game season series with the Lakers a year ago. The Jazz are 4-1 against the spread in their last five games following a straight up win. Utah is also 11-3 ATS in its last 14 games versus Pacific division opponents.

Meanwhile, the Lakers are 5-1 against the spread in their last six home games. However, Los Angeles is just 2-6 ATS in its last eight Friday games. The Lakers are also 3-10 ATS in their last 13 games following an ATS loss and 28-35 ATS as a favorite over the last three seasons.

Utah Jazz

Donovan Mitchell scored a game-high 32 points in Wednesday’s win over Oklahoma City, including six points in the final minute of the victory. Mitchell also pitched in 12 rebounds from the Jazz. Bojdan Bogdanovic scored 16 points in his debut with the Jazz, providing the team with the secondary scoring they’ve been looking for. The fact that Utah won the game despite a 1-for-16 shooting performance from point guard Mike Conley is very promising. The Jazz added Conley in the offseason in order to provide a veteran presence that can contribute at both ends of the floor. There is no way he will play worse on Friday night than he did in the opener – especially against the Lakers, who again looked shaky defensively.

Utah is still one of the best defensive teams in the NBA on paper and they know that LeBron James and Anthony Davis can only do so much. Just limit the supporting cast and the Jazz should be in good shape.

Los Angeles Lakers

It took one game for all of the Lakers major weaknesses to be exposed. First of all, Los Angeles lost by 10 points despite getting 28 points from Danny Green. Second, their lack of depth was completely exposed when the Clippers bench outscored their bench 60-19. Third, LeBron and Anthony Davis were held to a combined 43 points, which isn’t nearly enough point production from a star tandem that the Lakers will need to lean heavily on this season. Nobody is hitting the panic button in Los Angeles just yet but this is not the start they were hoping for – especially against a Clippers team that was missing Paul George. Could this is a good spot for them to bounce back, though, as the Jazz were just 21-20 on the road last season?

Who Will Win Jazz vs. Lakers?

Injuries

Utah

Justin Wright-Foreman (PG)

Out indefinitely Personal - 16 / 08 / 20

Ed Davis (C)

Out indefinitely Knee - 13 / 08 / 20

Mike Conley (PG)

Prob Fri Personal - 12 / 08 / 20

Emmanuel Mudiay (PG)

Prob Mon Knee - 12 / 08 / 20

Emmanuel Mudiay (PG)

Ques Mon Knee - 08 / 08 / 20

Juwan Morgan (PF)

Prob Thurs Knee - 07 / 08 / 20

Mike Conley (PG)

Prob Sat Knee - 06 / 08 / 20

Joe Ingles (SF)

Prob Fri Foot - 06 / 08 / 20

Royce O'Neale (SF)

Prob Sat Calf - 06 / 08 / 20

Royce O'Neale (SF)

Prob Mon Foot - 03 / 08 / 20

L.A. Lakers

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Sun Finger - 11 / 10 / 20

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Tues Finger - 05 / 10 / 20

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Sun Hip - 03 / 10 / 20

Alex Caruso (SG)

Prob Wed Wrist - 29 / 09 / 20

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Wed Finger - 29 / 09 / 20

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Sat Finger - 26 / 09 / 20

Alex Caruso (SG)

Prob Sat Wrist - 25 / 09 / 20

Alex Caruso (SG)

Prob Thurs Wrist - 23 / 09 / 20

Danny Green (SG)

Prob Thurs Finger - 23 / 09 / 20

Rajon Rondo (PG)

Prob Sun Back - 19 / 09 / 20

Injuries

Utah

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Justin Wright-Foreman (PG)	Out indefinitely	Personal - 16 / 08 / 20	3-4	5-2	+ -
Wright-Foreman will miss an extended period after leaving the NBA bubble for a personal reason.
Ed Davis (C)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 13 / 08 / 20	3-5	6-2	+ -
Davis suffered an MLC injury in his left knee, and there is no timetable for return.
Mike Conley (PG)	Prob Fri	Personal - 12 / 08 / 20	3-5	6-2	+ -
Conley has returned to the NBA bubble after attending the birth of his son, but he is expected to draw back into the lineup for Game 3 of the Western Conference first round against the Nuggets.
Emmanuel Mudiay (PG)	Prob Mon	Knee - 12 / 08 / 20	3-5	6-2	+ -
Mudiay is nursing soreness in his left knee, but he is projected to play in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round against the Nuggets.
Emmanuel Mudiay (PG)	Ques Mon	Knee - 08 / 08 / 20	4-6	8-2	+ -
Mudiay sat out the previous game due to soreness in his left knee, and it is unclear if he will take the court for Monday's contest versus the Mavericks.
Juwan Morgan (PF)	Prob Thurs	Knee - 07 / 08 / 20	5-6	9-2	+ -
Morgan is out of action with a sore right knee, but he is likely to return Thursday against the Spurs.
Mike Conley (PG)	Prob Sat	Knee - 06 / 08 / 20	5-6	9-2	+ -
Conley missed the last game with a sore right knee, but it is anticipated that it will not prevent him from playing Saturday against the Nuggets.
Joe Ingles (SF)	Prob Fri	Foot - 06 / 08 / 20	5-6	9-2	+ -
Ingles is projected to be available against the Spurs on Friday despite a sore right foot.
Royce O'Neale (SF)	Prob Sat	Calf - 06 / 08 / 20	5-6	9-2	+ -
O'Neale missed the previous contest due to right calf soreness, but it is likely that he will face the Nuggets on Saturday.
Royce O'Neale (SF)	Prob Mon	Foot - 03 / 08 / 20	5-8	10-3	+ -
O'Neale is battling a sore right foot, but he is likely to take the court against the Lakers on Monday.

L.A. Lakers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Sun	Finger - 11 / 10 / 20	0-1	1-0	+ -
Green is dealing with soreness in his left ring finger but is anticipated to face the Heat in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Tues	Finger - 05 / 10 / 20	0-3	1-2	+ -
Green is tending to a volar plate injury in his left ring finger but is projected to suit up against the Heat in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Sun	Hip - 03 / 10 / 20	1-4	2-3	+ -
Green is bothered by tightness in his hip and a volar plate injury in his left ring finger. He is likely to suit up for Game 3 of the NBA Finals versus the Heat.
Alex Caruso (SG)	Prob Wed	Wrist - 29 / 09 / 20	2-4	3-3	+ -
Caruso is expected to play against the Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals despite a sore right wrist.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Wed	Finger - 29 / 09 / 20	2-4	3-3	+ -
Green is projected to take on the Heat in Game 1 of the NBA Finals despite a volar plate injury to his left ring finger.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Sat	Finger - 26 / 09 / 20	2-4	4-3	+ -
Green is managing a hyperextended left ring finger, but it is projected that he will take the court for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Nuggets.
Alex Caruso (SG)	Prob Sat	Wrist - 25 / 09 / 20	2-5	5-3	+ -
Caruso is battling a sore right wrist, but is likely to be in the lineup for Game 5 of the Western Conference finals against the Nuggets.
Alex Caruso (SG)	Prob Thurs	Wrist - 23 / 09 / 20	2-6	5-4	+ -
Caruso is expected to play against the Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals despite right wrist soreness.
Danny Green (SG)	Prob Thurs	Finger - 23 / 09 / 20	2-6	5-4	+ -
Green is battling a volar plate injury in his left finger but is likely to take on the Nuggets in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals.
Rajon Rondo (PG)	Prob Sun	Back - 19 / 09 / 20	4-6	6-5	+ -
Rondo has been dealing with back spasms, but he is expected to be available for Game 2 of the Western Conference final against the Nuggets.