Lakers vs. Jazz Prediction: NBA Odds, Point Spread
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Andrew Rogers
The Jazz own an incredible 25-6 SU record and a three-game lead over the Los Angeles Clippers atop the Western Conference standings – and adding a win over the defending champs, even with them shorthanded, will only enhance their season resume.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The absence of Lakers starters Anthony Davis and Dennis Schroder has oddsmakers squarely on the side of the host Jazz, who are whopping 8.5-point favourites Wednesday night. Yet, despite the Lakers’ recent struggles and Utah riding a sizzling 9-1 ATS hot streak, nearly three-quarters of Sports Interaction bettors are taking the Lakers and the point. Of note: Los Angeles has covered each of its previous four games at +8 or higher.
The total for this one comes in at an even 220, with 77 percent of the Sports Interaction crowd siding with the Under. That’s to be expected, given that both teams have skewed toward the Under this season (the Lakers are 13-19 O/U, while the Jazz are 14-16-1). Los Angeles has taken the trend one step further when playing away from Staples Center, with 13 Unders against just three Overs in 16 road games on the season.
Los Angeles Lakers
Losing Davis and Schroder hasn’t just put a strain on the Lakers’ offence – it has also forced the team to ask more out of LeBron James in his 17th NBA season. And while James told reporters following Monday’s 127-124 overtime loss to Washington that he doesn’t need more rest, he’s clearly trending in the wrong direction. James is averaging an eye-popping 38.2 minutes in 11 February games, up from 33.9 in January and way up from 31.4 in December.
Utah Jazz
The Jazz might not be the flashiest team in the league, but they have all the pieces necessary to not only dominate the regular season, but to fashion a long postseason run. They have the elite distributor in Mike Conley, the electrifying wing scorer in Donovan Mitchell, the rim protecting big in Rudy Gobert and the sensational sixth man in Jordan Clarkson. And those four form the core of a Jazz team that has already posted 21 double-digit victories this season.
LAL
UTA