Utah Jazz vs LA Lakers Prediction: Soaring Lakers take on dwindling Jazz

The NBA Postseason is coming in a few days and now we have arrived at the latter stages of the Regular Season. This is a tricky period for teams looking to slip into either a top-six or the bottom-four Play-in spots. One of the teams vying for a big spot, the Utah Jazz are going to take on the Los Angeles Lakers.

Utah Jazz

The Jazz enters the match after a close 110:118 loss against the Nets despite a 32 points and eight assists performance by Talen Horton-Tucker. The Jazz has lost six of their last seven games which has pretty much ruled them out of the Play-in contention. The Jazz has had a poor run in the second half of the season and a bunch of close losses around midseason and that derailed their season. Lauri Markkanen looks like a surefire pick for the Most Improved Player and they can build a strong team around him, they need a Wing to do that and a much more proficient Guard rotation.

LA Lakers

The Lakers march into this affair after defeating the Rockets 134:109 on the heels of a 40 points outburst by Anthony Davis. They have won three in a row and six of their last seven games. Since the second week of February, the Lakers have won 14 of their 20 games, mostly due to the amazing play of Davis. The Lakers will have a chance to win multiple games here and they have a huge chance at nabbing a top-six spot and avoid the Play-in tournament and that is why the game against the Clippers, which have around the same record is going to be huge.

Injuries

• Jazz: OUT: Walker Kessler, Rudy Gay, Jordan Clarkson. QUESTIONABLE: Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton;
• Lakers: OUT: Mo Bamba, Scotty Pippen Jr. QUESTIONABLE: LeBron James. PROBABLE: D’Angelo Russell, Anthony Davis.

Expert Betting Tips

The Lakers have been re-hot these days and the Jazz has been highly vulnerable. Without Walker Kessler and potentially Lauri Markkanen too, the Jazz will have a tough time containing Anthony Davis who has been on fire. That is why I back the Lakers to win big and predict a scoreline of 131:110 in their favor.