It’s hard to say seeing the Los Angeles Lakers start the season struggling was a big surprise. With an aging core of stars, the Lakers started to show their age last season when they struggled mightily defensively and missed out on the playoffs.
But anyone making a Jazz vs Lakers betting prediction wouldn’t have expected an 0-5 start to the season.
Lakers’ Pressure to Win
When it comes to Los Angeles, there is always pressure to win, and with two straight wins, it has started to steady the ship.
As far as the Lakers’ matchups go, their game with Utah will be an interesting one. Utah made waves in the offseason by dealing away Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell in separate trades.
While more than a few people thought the Jazz were ready to tank, Utah has surged to a 6-3 record and is playing good basketball.
While the rigors of the NBA schedule will make this difficult to maintain, the players on the Jazz roster have shown they are ready for the fight.
Last Game Records
Utah lost to Dallas 103-100 last time out. The Jazz have a 6-3 record. The Lakers beat New Orleans 120-117 in overtime. Los Angeles’ record is 2-5.
Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Lakers Betting Analysis
What makes Utah so productive is how the offense functions together. For Jazz betting odds, it is easy to see how Utah shares the ball as it has six players scoring in double figures.
Lauri Markkanen has been the Jazz’s top scorer, putting up 21.7 points and also contributing 9.0 rebounds per game.
The Utah Jazz are in Harmony to Start the Season.
Jordan Clarkson has also provided 17.1 points per game, while Collin Sexton has scored 13.2 points per game while primarily coming off the bench.
Overall, Utah puts up 115.6 points per game, which ranks 10th in the league. Regarding efficiency, the Jazz vs Lakers betting prediction shows Utah could get better looks at the basket.
The Jazz shoot 46 percent from the field, which ranks 21st in the NBA.
Making a Jazz vs Lakers betting prediction is tough to tell how good Los Angeles is. The Lakers have won the first two games of their two-game homestand but haven’t looked steady this season.
NBA team stats show Los Angeles hasn’t really built a roster suited to compete in the modern NBA.
Lakers Hoping and Needing A Big Surge of Momentum
The Lakers are last in the NBA in 3-point percentage, only making 26.7 percent of their attempts. Los Angeles has been trying to prop up an aging core of players.
NBA player stats show that LeBron James and Anthony Davis lead the team in scoring, averaging 25.0 and 23.2 points per game, respectively.
The Lakers only had four players scoring in double figures. While it’s bad enough that Los Angeles struggles as they do on offense, the Lakers have shown some defensive improvements from last season.
The Lakers are sixth in field goal and 3-point percentage defense.
Updates
- Davis is questionable with a back injury.
- James is probable with a foot injury.
- Jazz forward Simone Fontecchio is questionable due to conditioning.
- Jazz shooting guard Leandro Bolmaro is out with COVID-19.
Jazz vs. Lakers Betting Preview
The Lakers are 2.5-point favorites. Los Angeles is -136 on the moneyline, while the Jazz are +114. The over/under has been set at 226 points. The Jazz are 6-3 against the spread, while the Lakers are 2-5.
Utah has seen six of its nine games go under the total. Los Angeles has had four of its seven games go under the total. Utah is 2-3 straight up on the road, while the Lakers are 2-2 at home.
Jazz vs. Lakers betting prediction
Hitting the road with a three-game winning streak has to feel pretty good for a Los Angeles team starting an 0-6 start squarely in the face last Sunday.
What the Lakers will need to do in order to grab a win is keep the Jazz’s balanced offensive attack off-kilter.
Who to Bet On?
If Utah can put together a big burst of scoring, it may be difficult for Los Angeles to come back and get the victory.
However, there’s also a chance that the Jazz’s revitalized lineup has been playing over their heads and is due to come back to Earth.
This is an interesting early-season matchup. The Lakers have already beaten two playoff-quality teams during their winning streak and will grab another one against Utah.
NBA Pick: Lakers (-145)
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