A Western Conference showdown takes place when the Los Angeles Lakers (31-44) and the Utah Jazz (45-31) match up on Thursday evening. Utah has been on a big slide, dropping five straight, including blowing a 25-point lead and falling to the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday. Similarly, the Lakers are on a three-game losing streak. Utah is currently the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference standings, while Los Angeles is the No. 10 and clinging to a half-game lead for the final play-in spot. LeBron James is expected to miss another game with an ankle injury, and he could be joined on the bench by Anthony Davis (ankle), who is doubtful. Bojan Bogdanovic (calf) is questionable for Utah.
Tipoff is at 10 p.m. ET at Vivint Arena. Utah is favored by 13 points in the latest Lakers vs. Jazz odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while the Over-Under is 225. Before making any Jazz vs. Lakers picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model enters Week 24 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 83-51 roll on all top-rated NBA picks, returning over $2,600. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Lakers vs. Jazz, and just locked in its picks and NBA prediction. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting lines for Jazz vs. Lakers:
- Lakers vs. Jazz spread: Utah -13
- Lakers vs. Jazz over-under: 225 points
- Lakers vs. Jazz money line: Utah -800, Los Angeles +550
- LAL: Over is 5-1 in Lakers’ last six overall
- UTA: Jazz are 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 games as home favorites
Featured Game | Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Lakers
Why the Jazz can cover
Guard Donovan Mitchell is an uber-athletic and excellent scorer for Utah. Mitchell has elite leaping ability and is a threat to create turnovers on the defensive end. The three-time All-Star logs 26 points, 4.2 rebound and 5.4 assists per game. The Louisville product can get a bucket from all three levels with ease. Mitchell has notched 30-plus points in five of his last seven outings. In his last contest, the 2017 first-round pick ended with 33 points and six assists.
Guard Jordan Clarkson is a playmaker who provides instant offense off the bench. Clarkson has a solid jumper and knows how to draw contact. The Missouri product averages 16.1 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. The 2021 Sixth Man of the Year has amassed 20-plus points in five games during the month of March, including a 45-point outing on Mar. 12.
Why the Lakers can cover
Guard Russell Westbrook’s usage will be up due to the Lakers’ injuries. Westbrook is an all-around threat who has a downhill play style. The nine-time All-Star is fearless when driving down the lane while looking to set his teammates up. The UCLA product logs 18.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game. The 2017 NBA MVP has notched 20-plus points in five of his last six games. On Mar. 29, Westbrook produced 25 points, eight rebounds and six assists.
Guard Malik Monk hopes to continue his solid play on the offensive end. With Los Angeles ravaged by injuries, Monk has scored 20-plus points in three straight games. The Kentucky product has a smooth stroke with the athleticism to consistently drive down the lane. In his last outing, Monk chipped in 28 points, four rebounds, and went 6-for-10 from three.
How to make Jazz vs. Lakers picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning over on the total, projecting 227 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 50 percent of simulations. You can only see the model’s pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Lakers vs. Jazz? And which side of the spread hits in well over 50 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the spread you need to jump on Thursday, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
