NBA Odds: Utah Jazz vs L.A. Lakers Preview & Pick
Looking for the #1 Internet gambling & NBA handicapping info site on the WWW? Get the best NBA picks in the industry to help you win more when you bet on the NBA with CappersPicks.com.
CLICK HERE TO JOIN SPORTSBOOK.COM – ONE OF OUR TOP RATED ONLINE SPORTSBOOKS – 50% SIGN UP BONUS FOR NBA BETTING ONLINE
We have compiled the best group of handicappers on the Web, so we guarantee you will ONLY get the best NBA Hoops plays each day.
Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Lakers Matchup
Date: Tuesday, January 25, 10:30 p.m. ET
Venue: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA
Broadcast: FSUT, FSW
Jazz vs. Lakers lines from Sportsbook.com
Jazz: +7.5
Lakers: -7.5
Total: 195.5
Check Out Our Indepth NBA ATS Betting Stats For This Game —>
Bet Now @ Sportsbook.com
In a potential preview of the Western Conference Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers will host the Utah Jazz on NBA odds this Tuesday. Something has to give, as neither team has played its best basketball lately.
The Lakers (32-13, 20-23-1 ATS) have lost two of their last four games. Los Angeles won and covered 107-97 on Denver Friday, but it remains a disappointing 2-4 ATS in its last six outings.
The recent losses can largely be attributed to a lack of offense; the Lakers averaged just 96 points against the Clippers and Mavericks (both games were on the road). In the team’s past nine wins, however, it is averaging nearly 106 points per game. Getting a better effort from Pau Gasol would be a big help. The center has been fine as far as scoring goes, but Friday’s win over Denver was the first time in five games he picked up double-digit rebounds.
If there’s a player that can’t be blamed for the lack of scoring, it’s Kobe Bryant. Bryant always scores a ton of points, but it’s often because he takes a ton of shots getting there. The superstar has made the most of his opportunities over the past few weeks, though, hitting 54.4 percent of his shots over the past nine games—well above his season field goal percentage of 45.8.
Utah (27-17, 20-23-1 ATS) needs a spark, and fast. The club has lost four straight games, including a 96-85 loss in Philadelphia on Saturday. The Jazz failed to cover, dropping to 0-4 ATS during the slump—and just 2-10 ATS in their past 12 games.
The offense has completely dried up during the skid, and it keeps getting worse. The Jazz have scored 101, 95, 86 and 85 points in their past four games. To make matters worse, three of those games came against brutal competition (Washington, New Jersey and the 76ers; the other came against Boston). To be fair, all four were on the road, but the Jazz shouldn’t be losing to bad teams at this stage of the season.
But winning on the road is a growing problem. Utah has won just once in its past seven road games, going 1-6 ATS in that span. Coach Jerry Sloan has started juggling the lineup to find a spark, but the answer is simple: everyone has to play better, regardless if you’re starting or on the bench to begin the game.
Neither club is playing great, but at least the Lakers have won in the last week or so. Utah is just miserable on the road, so it’s hard to imagine it coming into the Staples Center and pulling off a miracle—especially since the Lakers are 8-2 (6-4 ATS) in their past 10 games against the Jazz. Take the Lakers, who will kick Utah while its down.
Trends:
Over is 7-2 in UTA last 9 road games.
Under is 25-9 in LAL last 34 overall.
LAL are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 vs. NBA Northwest.
Utah at Los Angeles pick: Lakers
Ian Van Den Hurk has covered amateur and pro sports for years, including a successful run handicapping anything from football to mixed martial arts.
