Los Angeles Lakers vs Utah Jazz Prediction, Preview and Odds - 04/04/2023

Game Time: 9:00 pm ET, Tuesday, March 4, 2023

Venue:  Vivint Arena, Salt Lake City, UT

Where to Watch:  Sportsnet RM

DraftKings:  Point Spread:  Lakers -8, Jazz +8; Over/Under:  234.5 points

Bet365:  Point Spread:  Lakers -8, Jazz +8; Over/Under:  234.5 points

BetMGM:  Point Spread:  Lakers -8, Jazz +8; Over/Under:  234.5 points

Los Angeles Lakers:  40-38 (5th place, Pacific Division)

Utah Jazz:  36-42 (4th place, Northwest Division)

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Los Angeles Lakers:  7-3 last 10

Utah Jazz:  3-7 last 10

The Lakers are coming into this game with a 40-38 record overall and they are 19-20 in their road games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 3 game winning streak with wins coming against the Chicago Bulls, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Houston Rockets in their last game. Anthony Davis led the team in points in that game with 40 while Rui Hachimura was next on the team with 20 points. LeBron James led the team in assists in that game with 11 while Rui Hachimura led the team in rebounds with 12. They were 55.9% from the field, 30% from 3-point range, and 75% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 116.7 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 116.4 PPG against them. The Lakers have an ATS record of 39-38-1 this season and their O/U record is 40-38.

The Jazz are coming into this game with a 36-42 record overall and they are 22-16 in their home games this season where they will be in this game. They are entering this game on a 2 game losing streak with losses coming against the Boston Celtics and the Brooklyn Nets in their last game. Talen Horton-Tucker led the team in points in that game with 32 while Lauri Markkanen was next on the team with 23 points. Talen Horton-Tucker led the team in assists in that game with 8 while Kelly Olynyk led the team in rebounds with 15. They were 44% from the field, 25% from 3-point range, and 73.3% from the free throw line with their shots in that game. Their offense is averaging 117.1 PPG and their defense is allowing their opponents to average 117.8 PPG against them. The Jazz have an ATS record of 44-32-2 this season and their O/U record is 44-32-2.

The current betting odds have the Lakers listed as an 8 point favorite in this game according to Draftkings Sportsbook. The Lakers haven't been great this season with their 40-38 record overall but they made a lot of moves to get better and are in a position to go to the playoffs if they can hang onto their play-in spot in these last few games. They haven't been great in their road games with a 19-20 road record but they have been playing a lot better lately with their 3 wins in a row now. The Jazz haven't been great this season either as they are only 36-42 overall but their playoff hopes are pretty much gone at this point. The Jazz have been better in their home games with a 22-16 home record but they have lost 2 games in a row now and haven't been that good in their games lately. The Jazz still have a chance at the last play-in spot but it is very unlikely with the way they have been playing lately while the Lakers have been playing a lot better as their new players start to mesh with each other and they are going to be making a big push in this final stretch. The best way to place a bet here is on the Lakers to cover the spread in this game. 

Lakers Jazz Prediction:  Our NBA Pick for Tuesday, March 4, 2023 (9:00 pm ET start time) is Lakers 114 Jazz 97.

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Los Angeles Lakers: 8-20 ATS after 3 or more consecutive wins. 18-32 ATS after a win by 10 points or more. 23-15 OVER in road games.

Utah Jazz: 10-2 ATS as a home underdog. 18-9 ATS after 1 or more consecutive unders. 24-11 OVER as an underdog of 3.5 to 9.5 points.

Los Angeles Lakers:  D. Russell (PG) Ques Tues - Foot. M. Bamba (C) Mid April - Ankle.

Utah Jazz:  W. Kessler (C) Ques Tues - Concussion. R. Gay (SF) Out indefinitely - Back. C. Sexton (PG) Mid April - Hamstring. J. Clarkson (PG) Out indefinitely - Finger.

“We always say we want to get stronger as the season gets longer and be playing our best basketball at the right time. Well, the time is definitely right and everybody’s in a good rhythm starting with (Davis) first and foremost. He understands wholeheartedly what we need him to do and he’s coming out and trying to do that.” - Darvin Ham after his team’s win against the Rockets in their game on Sunday.

“I love the competitiveness. I thought the guys dug in, stuck with it when they very easily could’ve folded at different times in the game.” - Will Hardy after his team’s loss against the Nets in their game on Sunday.

PG D'Angelo Russell

SG Austin Reaves

SF LeBron James

PF Jarred Vanderbilt

C Anthony Davis

PG Kris Dunn

SG Ochai Agbaji

SF Lauri Markkanen

PF Kelly Olynyk

C Walker Kessler

PPG: L. James (28.8)

APG: L. James (6.9)

Reb/G: A. Davis (12.4)

PPG: L. Markkanen (25.6)

APG: K. Dunn (5)

Reb/G: L. Markkanen (8.6)

Coaches:

Los Angeles Lakers: Darvin Ham (1st season)

Utah Jazz: Will Hardy (1st season)