Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers Predictions and Odds Jan 17
Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers Betting Preview
WagerTalk NBA handicapper Andy Lang offers his Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers betting preview for Monday, January 17. At the time of posting, the Jazz have opened as a 4.5-point road favorite over the Lakers, with the total sitting at 230.5 points.
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| Monday, January 17 | NBA Betting Notes |
|---|---|
| Point Spread: | Utah Jazz -4.5 at Los Angeles Lakers |
| Total: | 230.5 Points |
| Game Time: | 10:40pm ET / 7:40pm PT |
| Arena: | Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, CA |
| TV: | NBA TV |
Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers Analysis
The Utah Jazz will be traveling to Los Angeles to take on the Lakers on MLK day and the Jazz will be -4.5 point favorites with a huge total of 233 in this game. LeBron and the Lakers have lost three straight and face a tough task in breaking the streak as Utah is fully healthy and showed what they are capable of on Sunday as they won by 23 against Denver to break their own four game losing streak. It should be a high scoring affair as LeBron, Mitchell and Westbrook will put on a show, and we can’t wait to make a wager on this game.
Go Time With Gobert
Gobert returned Sunday, and the Jazz looked back to their elite selves again as they waxed the Nuggets 125-102. The previous four games ended up in losses by 10 or more for Utah where they gave up 111, 125, 126, and 122 to opponents. With Gobert back they held Denver to 102, and Rudy went for 18-19 in the game. I bring this up as the Lakers are playing without a center at this point, and that means Gobert could dominate a weak interior Lakers team, or he could be a liability on defense and get run out of the game if the perimeter of LA gets off to a hot start. I won’t look at recent against the spread or totals for the Jazz, but going back to the games before Gobert’s absence, the Jazz won seven out of eight with their only loss to a healthy Golden State team. In their last 13 wins the Jazz have scored 110 or more, and nine of those wins they’ve scored 120 or more so if the Jazz win, expect a big total from them.
Lakers Blues
The Lakers were riding high on a four game win streak, but it was against weak opponents and they’ve come crashing down to earth losing three straight to Memphis, Sacramento and Denver. The big concern is that they gave up 125 or more points in those three games, and with Utah coming to town they’ll have to figure out adjustments, but without Anthony Davis they have little to no defense for Gobert. LeBron has been amazing as he’s scored 30 or more points in 11 out of 13 games, but there’s only so much he can do on defense and the Lakers are the second worst team defending point guards so Donovan Mitchell will probably be a nightmare against them. The Lakers are 8-2 to the over in their last 10 and 25-18 for the season, so this 233 total might not be high enough.
Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers Prediction
The Lakers can’t defend point guards and centers right now, and with Donavan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert looking solid the Lakers are facing an uphill battle, and as we saw today Utah can route teams as they have depth, offense and defense. After LeBron and Westbrook, the offense for LA falls off and with Utah their depth is one of their strengths and I see it being too much for LA to overcome. I’ll take Utah to win, and win big.
OFFICIAL PICK: Jazz -4.5
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Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers Preview from GoldSheet
Utah beat the Lakers in two of the last three meetings last season after a two year drought facing Los Angeles, as ex-Laker Jordan Clarkson leading the Jazz (22 ppg), with Joe Ingles shooting 54% and Mike Conley scoring 14 ppg, with 9 apg and Gobert at 16 ppg and 9.5 rpg. while Donovan Mitchell only played in one of those meetings. Utah welcomed back C Rudy Gobert from quarantine against last night in its 125-102 bludgeoning of the Nuggets, and note the Jazz are 10-2 vs. the points playing without rest in Salt Lake City. Gobert contributed 19 pts. and 19 rebounds, while Mitchell scored 31.
The Laker defensive efficiency hit a nadir in the last five games, when LA allowed an NBA-worst 123 pts. per 100 possessions, and LA was also ranked 27th in the league in rebounding percentage. At the same time the Lakers pace increased to 6th, and their offensive efficiency was 5th in the NBA. This contrasts sharply to a seasonal ranking of 24th in offensive efficiency, 20th in defense, and 21st in pace. In total Los Angeles has morphed suddenly into an “over” side, which has resulted in a 5-0 mark in the last five and 9-2 the last 11. Utah has been a 67% “over” play since the middle of November. Might do well to back the scoring in this game going higher than expected.
NBA Stat Sheet
Each day, WagerTalk handicapper Ralph Michaels puts together his NBA Stat Sheet, which offers a head-to-head comparison for how teams are performing in a number of key areas heading into a game. Check out Monday’s sheet, with notes on tonight’s Utah Jazz at Los Angeles Lakers contest.
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