Seeding In The Western Conference At Stake
The Los Angeles Lakers have not been the team that we were expecting them to be at the start of the season. NBA odds had them as a favorite to win the Western Conference; they might not even make the playoffs.
The Lakers are lucky to be sitting tenth in the West after losing on Tuesday. They are coming off their third straight loss, this time an 18-point shellacking by the Dallas Mavericks.
Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz fell down to the sixth seed after suffering their fifth straight loss. Which team can bounce back? Let’s take a closer look at this NBA game betting preview and figure out which way to go in the sportsbook.
Let’s check the latest NBA Picks, stats, injury reports, and NBA Odds for Team A vs Team B. We’ve plenty of NBA Predictions.
Lakers Are A Complete Mess
No matter what way you look at this roster, there is chaos all over the place. Injuries and poor play are just two of the largest factors impacting this team.
For this upcoming date with Utah, LeBron James and Anthony Davis are both out. Who is left to rely upon here?
Russell Westbrook never fit in. Dwight Howard is past his prime. There’s no youth movement here as it’s one of the oldest rosters in recent memory. On top of all of that, nobody is playing with any heart.
This team is pulse-less right now, which makes it tough to back them with your NBA picks.
Uncertainty Surrounding Jazz Now
After the Jazz allowed Paul George and the Los Angeles Clippers to storm back from a 25-point deficit and beat them in their last game, uncertainty has clouded the franchise.
The team’s star guard Donovan Mitchell didn’t look like he had any motivation to keep going. When asked about how this recent catastrophe was similar to their playoff run in 2021, he said, “It’s the same sh*t. It’s the same thing. It’s literally the same thing.”
Mitchell’s frustration could be a sign that things aren’t as good as they seem over in Utah. While the Lakers have their problems, it appears the Jazz do as well.
The only good news here is that the Jazz were up by 25 at one point, so they simply have to figure out how to close out games. As for the Lakers, they’re just a complete mess.
Lakers vs. Jazz Head-to-Head
The Lakers were able to win both matchups against the Utah Jazz this season. We’ll see if the Jazz can get on the board in this spot.
Lakers vs. Jazz Game Information
- Game: Los Angeles Lakers (31-44) at Utah Jazz (45-31)
- Location: Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, UT
- Day/Time: Thursday, 10:00 p.m. ET
- Live stream: NBA Game Pass
Lakers vs. Jazz Betting Lines
Lakers vs. Jazz Prediction
Surprisingly, the Jazz are 12-point favorites in this upcoming game against the Lakers but the reason is simply: James is out for the Lakers.
If you’re betting the Lakers, you’re banking on the Jazz collapse continuing. Utah has lost five straight and it’s hard to believe that they are ready to beat anybody by 12 points right now – especially considering their star players’ frustrations.
At the same time, the Lakers are 13 games under .500 and have just seven wins in their last 27. This game is tough to pick but throw a dart and take the points.
Pick: Los Angeles Lakers +12 (-110)
