The Los Angeles Lakers are desperate for wins, so look for them to go all out even without LeBron James this Thursday against the Utah Jazz, who want to move a step closer to officially locking up a playoff spot in the Western Conference. Check out our preview below of this Lakers-Jazz NBA matchup.
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Betting Preview for the Los Angeles Lakers vs Utah Jazz NBA Regular Season Game on March 31, 2022
Where: Vivint Arena Salt Lake City, UT
When: Thursday, March 31, 2022, 10:00 PM ET
Line: Los Angeles Lakers (Odds) vs. Utah Jazz (Odds) – view all 2022-22 NBA lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Los Angeles Lakers (odds)
Regular Season Record: 31-44
This season has been a disaster for the Lakers, who have just slid outside of the Play-in tournament picture following a 128-110 road loss at the hands of Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks Tuesday night. With just a little more handful of games remaining on the schedule in their schedule in the regular season, the Lakers will have to ask for more, particularly from Russell Westbrook. The former NBA MVP is set to continue getting a massive usage rate with LeBron James not expected to play this Thursday because of a sprained ankle. James missed the Dallas game, giving Westbrook and Malik Monk opportunities to shine even brighter – which they did, albeit in a losing effort. Westbrook had 25 points while Monk produced a team-high 28 points. Not having James around hurts LA’s chances of securing victories, but the Lakers might be catching the Jazz at just the right time, as Utah is dealing with a losing skid.
The Lakers have two wins already this season against Utah. They arrive in Salt Lake City with an 8-2 record against the spread in their last 10 visits to Utah’s home.
Betting on the Utah Jazz (odds)
Regular Season Record: 45-31
The Jazz have yet to find the cure to their malaise. Playing without Rudy Gobert, the Jazz sustained a 121-115 road loss to the LA Clippers on Tuesday. Gobert’s absence was pretty much felt by the Jazz throughout the game, as Paul George and the Clippers consistently had their way offensively. The good news for Utah is that the French big man will be there to patrol the paint this Thursday against the Lakers after missing the Clippers contest due to a lower leg contusion. That’s not so ideal for Los Angeles, which has been playing for some time now without Anthony Davis. And with LeBron James joining AD on the sidelines, Utah is expected to have an easier time bottling up the Lakers’ offense that can be very erratic with Westbrook orchestrating it. In the Lakers’ loss to Dallas, they shot just 44.9 percent from the field and was 12/44 from deep. James torched the Jazz in both meetings this season, so just not having The King in uniform is already a big plus for Utah, which is putting up 113.3 points per game.
The Jazz are 7-2-1 against the spread in their last 10 games overall.
Writer’s Prediction
The Jazz win, 118-108.
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