The Purple and Gold are seeking a third consecutive win while the Jazz are hoping to avenge a loss to the Lakers last November.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Lakers took down the Detroit Pistons 113-100 on Wednesday night. It was their second win of the week but just their third since LeBron James injured his groin.

Los Angeles is two games up on the Jazz for the final playoff position in the Western Conference at 23-19 straight up (18-23-1 against the spread). The club continues to be one of the best Under plays in the NBA. The Lakers have played below the posted Over/Under line in seven of their last 10 games, and the Under is 26-15-1 in their games on the season.

LA is 11th in the league in scoring (112.2 points per game) and 17th in points allowed (110.8). Luke Walton’s club plays with the third quickest pace in the league at 104.09 possessions per 48 minutes.

The Jazz are known as a defensive-first side with their shot-blocking big men. Utah owns the fifth best defensive rating in the Association and it is allowing 105.2 points per 100 possessions.

The squad sits in ninth place in the super-competitive Western Conference. Oddsmakers have a good feel for the Jazz when it comes to posting numbers. Utah is 21-20-1 ATS with a 21-21 Over/Under record.

The Under is 5-0 in Utah’s last five games against Western Conference foes and 7-1 in the last seven contests in Salt Lake City.

Los Angeles Lakers

Kyle Kuzma is coming off a 41-point performance Wednesday night against the Pistons. It makes a new career high for the second-year forward out of the University of Utah. Kuzma isn’t the only Laker youngster stepping up during the two-game win streak.

Brandon Ingram and Lonzo Ball both had big nights in the previous win – and not a moment too soon. Both sophomore pros had been struggling, and head coach Luke Walton had publicly called out their lackluster effort. Walton’s job could depend on how much he gets out of Ingram and Ball heading into the trade deadline in February.

Utah Jazz

It was a dream rookie season for Donovan Mitchell a year ago. The combo guard out of Louisville carried the Jazz all the way to the second round of the playoffs before they were ultimately dispatched by the Houston Rockets.

NBA prognosticators expected big things from Utah this season but the club struggled in early on. Mitchell is part of the problem. While he continues to put up big counting numbers, his shooting percentage has taken a big dip in his second year in the pros.

There are positive signs he might be heating up. Mitchell is coming off a 33-point game against the Magic and he’s shooting 47.1 percent from 3-point range so far this month.

Injuries

L.A. Lakers

Lance Stephenson (SG)

Ques Tues Foot - 09 / 04 / 19

Rajon Rondo (PG)

Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19

Tyson Chandler (C)

Out Tues Rest - 08 / 04 / 19

Reggie Bullock (SG)

Ques Tues Neck - 04 / 04 / 19

Reggie Bullock (SG)

Prob Tues Foot - 01 / 04 / 19

Tyson Chandler (C)

Ques Tues Flu - 26 / 03 / 19

Reggie Bullock (SG)

Prob Sun Foot - 24 / 03 / 19

Mike Muscala (PF)

Prob Fri Ankle - 22 / 03 / 19

Josh Hart (SG)

out for season Knee - 21 / 03 / 19

Josh Hart (SG)

Prob Tues Knee - 18 / 03 / 19

Utah

Thabo Sefolosha (SF)

Prob Wed Hip - 16 / 04 / 19

Kyle Korver (SG)

Prob Wed Knee - 16 / 04 / 19

Derrick Favors (PF)

Out Wed Rest - 10 / 04 / 19

Rudy Gobert (C)

Prob Sun Ankle - 10 / 04 / 19

Jae Crowder (SF)

Ques Sun Quadricep - 07 / 04 / 19

Ricky Rubio (PG)

Prob Sun Quadricep - 06 / 04 / 19

Raul Neto (PG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 04 / 04 / 19

Ricky Rubio (PG)

Prob Fri Hamstring - 03 / 04 / 19

Jae Crowder (SF)

Prob Fri Quadricep - 02 / 04 / 19

Kyle Korver (SG)

Ques Sun Knee - 01 / 04 / 19

Injuries

L.A. Lakers

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Lance Stephenson (SG)	Ques Tues	Foot - 09 / 04 / 19	1-0	1-0	+ -
Stephenson is battling a sore left foot and it is unclear if he will play against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
Rajon Rondo (PG)	Out Tues	Rest - 08 / 04 / 19	2-0	2-0	+ -
Rondo will not participate in Tuesday's game against the Trail Blazers as he is to be rested.
Tyson Chandler (C)	Out Tues	Rest - 08 / 04 / 19	2-0	2-0	+ -
Chandler will not play against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday due to a day of rest.
Reggie Bullock (SG)	Ques Tues	Neck - 04 / 04 / 19	2-2	2-2	+ -
Bullock has missed the previous three games with neck stiffness and has an unclear status Tuesday against the Trail Blazers.
Reggie Bullock (SG)	Prob Tues	Foot - 01 / 04 / 19	3-2	3-2	+ -
Bullock is expected to suit up against the Thunder on Tuesday despite a plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
Tyson Chandler (C)	Ques Tues	Flu - 26 / 03 / 19	7-2	4-5	+ -
Chandler has been idle due to flu-like symptoms and it is unclear if he will return against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday.
Reggie Bullock (SG)	Prob Sun	Foot - 24 / 03 / 19	7-3	4-6	+ -
Bullock has been held out of the previous four games with plantar fasciitis in his right foot but is expected to be available for Sunday's game against the Pelicans.
Mike Muscala (PF)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 22 / 03 / 19	7-4	4-7	+ -
Muscala has missed the past four games due to tibialis posterior tendonitis in his right ankle but is likely to return Friday against the Hornets.
Josh Hart (SG)	out for season	Knee - 21 / 03 / 19	7-4	4-7	+ -
Hart is recovering from a procedure on his right patellar tendon. He will miss the remainder of the 2018-19 season.
Josh Hart (SG)	Prob Tues	Knee - 18 / 03 / 19	7-5	5-7	+ -
Hart is battling right knee tendinitis but is projected to face the Bucks on Tuesday.

Utah

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Thabo Sefolosha (SF)	Prob Wed	Hip - 16 / 04 / 19	1-3	1-3	+ -
Sefolosha is dealing with left hip soreness but is likely to play in Game 2 of the Western Conference first round against the Rockets.
Kyle Korver (SG)	Prob Wed	Knee - 16 / 04 / 19	1-3	1-3	+ -
Korver has soreness in his right knee but is expected to suit up against the Rockets in Game 2 of the Western Conference first round.
Derrick Favors (PF)	Out Wed	Rest - 10 / 04 / 19	3-4	4-3	+ -
Favors will not play Wednesday against the Clippers as he is to be rested.
Rudy Gobert (C)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 10 / 04 / 19	3-4	4-3	+ -
Gobert is hobbled by soreness in his left ankle but is expected to suit up against the Rockets in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Jae Crowder (SF)	Ques Sun	Quadricep - 07 / 04 / 19	4-4	4-4	+ -
Crowder is dealing with a right quadriceps contusion and it is unclear if he will be available for Sunday's game against the Lakers.
Ricky Rubio (PG)	Prob Sun	Quadricep - 06 / 04 / 19	5-4	4-5	+ -
Rubio is tending to a contused left quadriceps muscle but it is likely he will be available for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round against the Rockets.
Raul Neto (PG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 04 / 04 / 19	5-5	4-6	+ -
Neto is battling a sore left ankle but is expected to return to the court against the Rockets in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Ricky Rubio (PG)	Prob Fri	Hamstring - 03 / 04 / 19	5-5	4-6	+ -
Rubio was absent from the lineup during the last game due to soreness in his right hamstring but is likely to suit up against the Kings on Friday.
Jae Crowder (SF)	Prob Fri	Quadricep - 02 / 04 / 19	5-6	5-6	+ -
Crowder was held out of the previous game with a right quadriceps contusion but it is unlikely to impede his status for Friday's contest versus the Kings.
Kyle Korver (SG)	Ques Sun	Knee - 01 / 04 / 19	5-6	5-6	+ -
Korver is sidelined due to a sore right knee and it is unclear if he will return for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round against the Rockets.

Lakers vs. Jazz Prediction