NBA Los Angeles Lakers vs Utah Jazz Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 03-27-2019, 22:30 EDT

Spread: Utah Jazz -12.5

Total: +216.5

Two teams sitting in and out of the playoff places of the Western Conference are clashing tonight, when the Los Angeles Lakers, who have lost all playoff hopes for this season, are visiting the Utah Jazz, who are fighting for a better playoff placement. Both teams have two straight wins and want to continue on the winning ways in this game.

Lakers are 31-43 so far in the league and are tied with Minnesota on the tenth place of the Western conference. They have won their last two games and in their latest matchup they were victorious against Washington at home, 124-106. Jazz are 44-30 so far in the league and are sitting on the sixth place of the Western conference. They are 7-1 in their last 8 games and in their latest matchup they were victorious against Phoenix at home, 125-92.

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LA are led in scoring by LeBron James with 27.4 ppg. He also adds 8.2 assists and leads the team in rebounding with 8.6 per game, while Kyle Kuzma with 18.6 ppg, adding 5.5 rebounds per game. Brandon Ingram adds 18.3 ppg and 5.1 rebounds per game but he is out for the season with an injury. Utah are led in scoring by Donovan Mitchell with 23.4 ppg. He also adds 4.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, while Rudy Gobert follows with 15.6 ppg and leads the team in rebounding with 12.9 per game. Ricky Rubio adds 12.7 ppg and leads the team in assists made with 6.1 per game.

Both teams are tied 1-1 wins so far this season. Utah won at home 113-95 and Lakers at home as well with a 90-83 score. Utah are 24-12 at home, while LA are 13-24 on the road. LA have a better offense with 111.9 ppg to Utah’s 110.9 ppg, while Utah have a better defense, allowing 106 ppg to LA’s 113.7. LA have a better accuracy from the field (47.2% to 46.4%), while Utah have a better accuracy from behind the arc (35.1% to 33%). Utah commit fewer turnovers (14.7 to 15.3) and dish more assists per game (25.7 to 25.3), while both squads grab almost the same number of rebounds (46.4 to 46.3). Utah are superior and the only team with incentive tonight, so expect them to win easily by more than 13 points.

Los Angeles Lakers vs Utah Jazz Prediction: Utah Jazz -12.5 (-115)