The Los Angeles Lakers host the Utah Jazz at Crypto.com Arena on February 10. The game starts at 10:30 PM ET. The Lakers are 31-19 and ranked fifth in the Western Conference. The Jazz are 12-39 and sit in 14th place.
This will be the third meeting between these teams this season. The Lakers won a close game 105-104 on December 1. Utah has struggled, losing 11 of its last 13 games. Los Angeles has won five in a row and 11 of its last 13. Luka Doncic is expected to make his Lakers debut after being traded from Dallas.
Lakers Preview – Can Doncic and LeBron Deliver?
The Lakers have been playing well even without Luka Doncic, who is set to debut. They won their last game 124-117 against Indiana. Austin Reaves had a career-high 45 points, and Rui Hachimura scored 24.
LeBron James missed that game due to an ankle injury but could return. The Lakers have the fifth-best record in the West and are 18-6 at home. They rank 11th in points allowed, giving up 112.1 per game. Their offense has been improving, averaging 113.3 points per game, close to the league average.
Los Angeles has been strong in second quarters, ranking second in the NBA with 28.4 points per quarter. Their defense allows 46.6% shooting, ranking 16th. The addition of Doncic could make them even more dangerous offensively. If James plays, it will be the first time he and Doncic share the court as teammates. Reaves, Hachimura, and Jaxson Hayes have stepped up in recent games, giving the Lakers added depth.
The Lakers also have an edge in rebounding, ranking sixth in the NBA with 45.5 rebounds per game. They have one of the league’s best offensive rebounding units, averaging 12.3 per game. Their ball movement has been an issue, though, as they rank 18th in assists and 30th in turnovers. If Doncic plays, his playmaking could help with that weakness.
Jazz Preview – Can Utah End Its Road Struggles?
The Jazz have lost eight straight road games and are 2-11 since January 15. They lost 130-110 to the Clippers in their last game. Jordan Clarkson led Utah with 24 points, while Keyonte George added 21.
Utah started well against the Clippers but ran out of energy after an overtime loss to Phoenix the night before. They allow 112.1 points per game, ranking 11th defensively. Their offense ranks 19th, averaging 111.8 points per game. The Jazz take a high volume of three-pointers, ranking eighth in the NBA in attempts, but they only shoot 35.4% from deep.
Lauri Markkanen, Walker Kessler, and Collin Sexton are all dealing with injuries. Markkanen is day-to-day with a back issue. The Jazz will need strong contributions from Clarkson and John Collins to stay competitive. Isaiah Collier has also been a key player, leading the team in assists in recent games.
Utah struggles with turnovers, ranking 30th in assist-to-turnover ratio. They also rank near the bottom in steals and blocks, showing a lack of defensive pressure. The Jazz rely on ball movement, but they have issues closing out games. They have given up multiple late leads over the past month, leading to their poor record.
Despite their struggles, Utah has covered in eight of their last 10 against the Lakers. They have also been profitable in first quarters, covering the spread in 26 of their last 37 games. If they can start strong and maintain energy, they could keep this game close.
Betting Prediction
The Lakers are 12.5-point favorites, with a total set at 233.5. Los Angeles has been strong at home, winning 18 of 24 games. Utah has struggled on the road, going 7-21 this season.
The Jazz have covered in eight of their last 10 against the Lakers. However, the Lakers have been in much better form. Expect Los Angeles to control the game with Doncic’s debut and cover the spread.
Pick: Lakers -12.5 over Utah.
