NBA Odds: LA Lakers vs Utah Jazz Preview & Pick
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strong>Los Angeles Lakers vs. Utah Jazz
Date: Friday, April 1, 10:30 p.m. ET
Venue: EnergySolutions Arena
Broadcast: ESPN, FSUT
Lakers vs. Jazz betting lines from Sportsbook.com
Money Line:
Spread: Lakers -8.5
Over/Under: 194.5
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After a light load on Thursday, NBA odds are back in full force with 13 games going down Friday evening. Both Los Angeles clubs will be in action, we cover the Lakers versus the Jazz.
Los Angeles (53-20, 35-38 ATS) is one of the hottest teams in the NBA and, with the Spurs injury ravaged, suddenly the club has a shot at top spot in the Western Conference. The Lakers weren’t enjoying a 15-1 run heading into their battle with the Mavericks on Thursday, including seven consecutive victories. They’ve been useless on NBA odds, though, going just 1-4 in their past five games against the spread. The Lakers won and covered in Tuesday’s 102-84 win over the Hornets.
The complete opposite of useless, meanwhile, has been Kobe Bryant. After a slow spurt of scoring through mid-March, when he less than 20 points three straight times, the veteran guard has exploded. Bryant is averaging 36.3 points over his past three games. It started with a 42-point explosion in a triple overtime win over Phoenix, followed by 37 points against the Clippers and 30 points against New Orleans. Bryant is also averaging 6.3 rebounds and 6.6 assists in that span.
Utah (36-39, 31-42-2 ATS) is at the complete opposite end of the spectrum. The Jazz have lost six consecutive games and are just 5-17 in their past 22 games. Utah failed to cover in Monday’s 100-95 loss to Washington, giving the club two straight losses on NBA odds. The Jazz are 1-3-1 in their past five games against the spread.
With Deron Williams off to New Jersey, Utah is struggling to find any sort of explosiveness on offense. The Jazz have topped 100 points just once in their past five games, averaging 93.6 points per game. Those numbers are largely inflated by a 121-117 overtime loss to the Hornets (Utah added a dozen points in the extra frame). The coaching staff has seemingly given up on a playoff run, or at least decided a change in direction was needed. Rookies Gordon Hayward, Derrick Favors and Jeremy Evans each saw extensive playing time in Monday’s loss to the Wizards.
There’s no way the Lakers blow this game outright, but the introduction of the rookies to the lineup should give Utah a boost. At least those guys will have some fight in them. Take Utah to cover on its home turf.
NBA Trends:
LAL are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 vs. NBA Northwest.
Under is 20-7 in LAL last 27 Fri. games.
LAL are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 Fri. games.
UTA are 3-10 ATS in their last 13 home games.
Los Angeles at Utah pick: Jazz
Ian Van Den Hurk has covered amateur and pro sports for years, including a successful run handicapping anything from football to mixed martial arts.
