Utah Jazz vs Los Angeles Lakers Betting Preview
January 15, 2016
Date & Time: Saturday, January 16, 9:00 PM
Venue: EnergySolutions Arena (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Head to head record
Los Angeles Lakers vs Utah Jazz 74-86 (2015/2016 NBA)
Los Angeles Lakers vs Utah Jazz 114-117 (2015/2016 NBA)
Los Angeles Lakers vs Utah Jazz 71-90 (2015/2016 NBA)
Los Angeles Lakers vs Utah Jazz 73-80 (2014/2015 NBA)
Utah Jazz vs Los Angeles Lakers 97-100 (2014/2015 NBA)
Utah Jazz vs Los Angeles Lakers prediction
Utah Jazz will be looking to keep their hopes of making it to the NBA play-offs alive with a win over rock-bottom Los Angeles Lakers. Lakers were beaten by title holders Golden State last night and it remains to be seen if they are capable of upsetting Jazz on Saturday evening.
Back-to-back defeats
After suffering a 99-85 loss to Portland Trail Blazers in their last away game, Utah Jazz badly needed a win against Sacramento Kings on Thursday evening, but they failed to get one. Quin Snyder’s men conceded two points less than one second before the end and, as a result, their participation in the play-offs is now in danger. Utah currently sit in 8th place in Western Conference, meaning that they face a must-win situation in Saturday’s game against Los Angeles Lakers. Jazz outclassed Miami Heat in their penultimate home match and they are certainly capable of beating Lakers, who have registered no more than nine wins this season. Gordon Hayward led Utah Jazz with 21 points in the 103-101 loss to Sacramento Kings and he will be one of the men to watch in the home team in the EnergySolutions Arena clash.
Forward-center Derrick Favors is likely to miss the match with injury, but coach Quin Snyder has no other injury worries ahead of the visit Los Angeles Lakers.
Bryant struggling to find his form
Los Angeles Lakers are having yet another season to forget. Veteran Kobe Bryant is no longer sharp and pacey as he used to be in the past and he is averaging just 17 points this season. A shoulder injury combined with a sore Achilles tendon forced the 37-year-old ace to miss four of previous seven matches and that is the main reason why he scored only 8 points against Golden State. As expected, Lakers suffered a 116-98 loss to Warriors and it has to be noted that Jordan Clarkson was the team’s top scorer with 22 points. Byron Scott’s men face a difficult task in Saturday’s game against Utah Jazz and seeing that they conceded 104+ points in each of their previous ten away matches, I do not believe that there is a big value in betting on the underdogs. You should have in mind that Lakers failed to beat Jazz in previous four meetings between the two teams.
Marcelo Huertas, Metta World Peace and Nick Young did not play against Warriors (coach decision), but the trio could return against Utah Jazz. Kobe Bryant should be fit to play.
Interesting Facts
- Utah Jazz are averaging 96.2 points this season
- Quin Snyder’s team are eyeing their 11th home win of the season
- Los Angeles Lakers are on a four-match losing run against Jazz
- Byron Scott’s troops have already suffered 20 defeats on the road this season
- Lakers conceded 100+ points in each of their last 18 away games in NBA
Utah Jazz vs Los Angeles Lakers betting pick
David faces Goliath at EnergySolutions Arena. Utah Jazz are superior to Los Angeles Lakers and seeing that Lakers key player Kobe Bryant, who will retire at the end of the season, failed to impress in the defeat to Golden State, I believe that there is a big value in betting on Quin Snyder’s men, who are desperate to stay in the race for the NBA play-offs. Taking everything into account, Jazz are likely to record their fifth consecutive win over Lakers.
Pick: Utah Jazz -7.5
Odds: -110
