Blake Daniels, April 4, 2023

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The Los Angeles Lakers look to move up the team standing even further when they take on the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City on Tuesday night.

Los Angeles has moved up to the 7th spot in the Western Conference team and they are now just one-half game from an outright playoff spot. The Lakers have won their last three games played and are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games played and 7-3 SU in their last 1o games played overall.

Utah has dropped to the 12th spot in the Western Conference team standings as they have struggled in their last 7 games played, with only one win during that stretch. The Jazz now find themselves 1.5 games off the 10th-seeded OKC Thunder and 2.5 games behind the 9th-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves. Utah has dropped its last two and is just 3-7 SU in their last 10 games played.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers look to extend their hot streak. Los Angeles is 6-1 SU in their last 7 games played and has won their last three games to vault to the 7th spot in the latest Western Conference team standings. After a big win in Houston, the Lakers hit the road again and head to Utah.

The Lakers are 8th in the NBA in scoring at 116.7 points per game this season. They are shooting 48.1% from the field and 34.2% from three-point distance, while also making 77.6% of their foul shots. Los Angeles is grabbing 45.6 rebounds per contest and has recorded a total of 1,965 assists per game. The Lakers are also averaging 14.1 turnovers while committing 18.0 fouls per game.

On the opposite end of the court, the Lakers are forcing opponents to 12.7 turnovers per game and they are drawing 21.6 fouls per contest. They are 14th in assists allowed at 1,998 and are allowing opponents to shoot 46.8% from the field and 34.3% from deep. Los Angeles’ opponents are grabbing an average of 45.0 boards per contest and conceded 116.4 points per game 19th overall in the league this season.

Utah Jazz

Meanwhile, Utah tries to keep its slim playoff hopes alive when they host the Lakers on Tuesday night. The Jazz have lost six out of their last seven games played, including a 111-110 defeat against the Brooklyn Nets last Sunday. In that game, the Jazz rallied from 23 points down but were not able to complete the comeback.

The Jazz are scoring 117.1 points per game this season. They are 19th overall in field goal percentage at 47.2% while making 78.6% of their free throw. Utah is 10th in the NBA in passing at 25.8 assists per game and are pulling down 45.8 rebounds per contest. They are committing 15.4 turnovers per game and 20.4 fouls per outing.

Defensively, Utah is 24th in scoring defense at 117.8 points per game allowed. The Jazz are forcing 12.6 turnovers per game and allowing opponents to shoot 47.6% from the field and 36.2% from behind the three-point arc. Opposing teams are also shooting 77.7% from the free throw line when playing the Jazz. They are surrendering 24.8 assists and 43.3 boards grabbed per contest.

The Jazz are dealing with several injuries right now which could be a factor in the outcome of this game:

Los Angeles Lakers vs Utah Jazz 4/4/23 SU Prediction

The Lakers are 1-3 SU in their last 4 games played against the Jazz. Los Angeles is 1-3 SU in their last four games played in Salt Lake City.

Los Angeles Lakers SU trends:

• The Lakers are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games played.
• The Lakers are 5-1 SU in their last 6 games played on the road.
• The Lakers are 10-14 SU in their last 24 games played against the Western Conference.
• The Lakers are 11-6 SU in their last 17 games as betting favorites against the Western Conference.

Utah Jazz SU trends:

• The Jazz are 1-6 SU in their last 7 games played.
• The Jazz are 22-16 SU in 38 home games played this season.
• The Jazz are 15-8 SU in their last 23 home games against the Western Conference.
• The Jazz are 13-16 SU in their last 29 games as betting underdogs against Western Conference teams.

Don’t look now but the Los Angeles Lakers are just one-half game behind both the 5th-seeded L.A. Clippers and 6th-seeded Golden State Warriors with one week left to go in the regular season. The Lakers are currently in 7th place and with still four games left to play, they aren’t discounting the possibility of entering the postseason outright.

The Lakers have won their last three games and are 6-1 SU in their last 7 games played overall. Anthony Davis is coming off a 40-point performance against the Houston Rockets the last time out while LeBron James recorded a triple-double in that game. If the Lakers’ stars continue to play this well, they are going to be a tough team to beat, whether it’s in the play-in or playoffs.

Despite losing six out of their last seven games played, the Utah Jazz are still in the hunt for a play-in seat. They have their work cut out for them as they are now 1.5 games behind the 10th-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder and one-half game behind 11th-seeded Dallas. After Tuesday’s game, Utah will play the Lakers again on Sunday for their regular season finale.

Regardless of what happens, this will be considered a successful season in Utah. The Jazz were supposed to be in rebuild mode after trading both Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert before the start of the season. In their last game, the Jazz lost to the Brooklyn Nets 111-110 after rallying from a 23-point deficit.

While it’s AD and LeBron whom the Jazz should be wary about, the Lakers need to tame former player Talen Horton-Tucker who has scored 101 total points in his last 3 games played. Horton Tucker scored 41 points in a win over the San Antonio Spurs and he scored 15 of his 32 points during the 4th quarter of last Sunday’s failed comeback bid against the Nets.

<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Talen racked up on this three-game road trip <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/PerformanceLeader?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#PerformanceLeader</a> | <a href=”https://twitter.com/UofUHealth?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>@uofuhealth</a> <a href=”https://t.co/z00R23JRUa”>pic.twitter.com/z00R23JRUa</a></p>&mdash; Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) <a href=”https://twitter.com/utahjazz/status/1642657472195313665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>April 2, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>

Both teams are trending in opposite direction right now. The Lakers are playing their best basketball of the season and are slowly gaining confidence. For as long as Anthony Davis stays in the game, he will be tough to defend in this matchup. If AD has another big game, it will open up opportunities for the rest of the team, including LBJ.

Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers

Lakers vs Jazz ATS Prediction

The Lakers are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games played against the Jazz. Los Angeles is also 3-2 ATS in their last 5 games played in Utah.

Los Angeles Lakers ATS trends:

• The Lakers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
• The Lakers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games.
• The Lakers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Lakers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games versus a team with a winning home record.
• The Lakers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a straight-up win of more than 10 points.
• The Lakers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Lakers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Lakers are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight-up win.
• The Lakers are 19-8 ATS in their last 27 games versus a team with a losing straight-up record.
• The Lakers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.

Utah Jazz ATS trends:

• The Jazz are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
• The Jazz are 3-7-1 ATS in their last 11 home games.
• The Jazz are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Jazz are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Jazz are 8-2-2 ATS in their last 12 games versus a team with a winning straight-up record.
• The Jazz are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games following an ATS win.
• The Jazz are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Jazz are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight-up loss.
• The Jazz are 12-4 ATS in their last 16 games playing on 1 day’s rest.
• The Jazz are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The Jazz are 1-6-1 ATS in their last 8 home games versus a team with a losing road record.

Four out of the Lakers’ last five wins have been by double digits, including wins over the Suns, Bulls, and Timberwolves. Los Angeles is 5-1 ATS in their last five games played. They are playing terrific basketball right now.

Utah is 4-1 ATS in their last five games played and have covered against the Kings, Celtics, and Nets during that span. However, the Jazz may be undermanned here with the potential players that could sit out this game.

Given how both teams have played as of late, I will have to go with the Lakers.

Prediction: Lakers -8

Lakers vs Jazz Over/Under Prediction

The over is 6-4 in the last 10 games played between these two teams. The over is 4-1 in their last 5 games played in Utah.

Los Angeles Lakers over/under trends:

• The over is 4-0 in the Lakers’ last 4 overall.
• The over is 5-1-1 in the Lakers’ last 7 road games.
• The over is 4-0 in the Lakers’ last 4 games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The over is 4-0 in the Lakers’ last 4 games when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The over is 4-0 in the Lakers’ last 4 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The over is 4-0-1 in the Lakers’ last 5 road games versus a team with a winning home record.
• The over is 6-1-1 in the Lakers’ last 8 Tuesday games.
• The over is 4-1 in the Lakers’ last 5 games when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The over is 4-1 in the Lakers’ last 5 games following a straight-up win.
• The under is 4-1 in the Lakers’ last 5 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
• The under is 7-3 in the Lakers’ last 10 games following a straight-up win of more than 10 points.
• The under is 16-7-1 in the Lakers’ last 24 games playing on 1 day’s rest.

Utah Jazz over/under trends:

• The over is 11-3-1 in the Jazz’s last 15 games played overall.
• The over is 4-1 in the Jazz’s last 5 home games.
• The over is 9-2-1 in the Jazz’s last 12 games playing on 1 day’s rest.
• The over is 11-3-1 in the Jazz’s last 15 games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The over is 7-2 in the Jazz’s last 9 games following an ATS win.
• The over is 10-3-1 in the Jazz’s last 14 games when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The over is 10-3-1 in the Jazz’s last 14 games after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The over is 9-3-1 in the Jazz’s last 13 games when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
• The under is 4-1 in the Jazz’s last 5 home games versus a team with a losing road record.

These teams have combined to score an average of 244.0 points per game in their last three head to head meetings. The Lakers have scored at least 121 points four times in their last six games played and in each of their previous three outings. The Jazz have conceded at least 121 points five times in their last eight games payed. Give me both teams to hit the over in this game.

Prediction: Over 234.5