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In the first game on the NBA’s Saturday schedule, we have the Utah Jazz taking on the Los Angeles Lakers at 4:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. The last time these two teams played each other, the Jazz easily defeated the Lakers at home 114-89 on Feb. 25.
The Jazz are coming into this matinee on a two-game winning streak after defeating the Indiana Pacers 119-111 on Friday. Utah has won four out of their last five games and have a record of 7-3 in their last 10.
The Lakers are looking to rebound from a 121-113 loss to the Boston Celtics on Thursday night. Los Angeles made it a game late in the fourth quarter, going on an incredible 26-4 run. However, it was not enough to get the job done. Los Angeles has only won two out of their last five games and are 5-5 in their last 10 contests.
Can the Jazz get another win over the Lakers in the second game of a back-to-back? Or will Lakers snap their two-game home losing skid? We’ll go over some ideal picks on DraftKings Sportsbook centered around the game here.
Jazz vs. Lakers, 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Pick ATS: Lakers -1
The line for Saturday’s game is currently set at one point, with the Lakers listed as the favorite. The Jazz are playing in the second game of a back-to-back and will not have Donovan Mitchell. The All-star guard suffered an ankle injury on Friday afternoon that will sideline him for at least a week. Along with Mitchell, Utah will not have Rudy Gobert (rest), Mike Conley (rest), and Derrick Favors (knee) for today’s game.
That is a lot of firepower missing for the best team in the Western Conference and is the main reason why this line is balancing between 1 and 0.5 points. This season, the Jazz are 13-14 against the spread on the road. Utah has struggled on the road recently, with a record of 1-5 ATS in their last six games.
Meanwhile, the Lakers are coming into today’s game as the healthier team. Los Angeles will have center Andre Drummond back in the starting lineup after not playing on Thursday due to a toe injury. The Lakers will also have Marc Gasol, Kyle Kuzma, and Wesley Matthews all available to play. However, both starting point guard Dennis Schroder and forward Markieff Morris are game-time decisions.
Los Angeles has been a solid play against the spread recently with a record of 4-2 in their last six contests. This season at the Staples Center, they are below .500 ATS with a record of 11-17. But with LA being the healthier team and the Jazz resting their key players, the Lakers should come away with the cover and win.
Player Prop: Joe Ingles over 2.5 three-pointers made (-113)
With the Jazz not having Mitchell or Conley for Saturday afternoon’s game, they will need someone else to step up on offense. This is where Joe Ingles can come into play. The veteran forward is averaging 11.9 points per game, while shooting 52% from the field and 48.6% from three-point range on 5.6 attempts per game.
The last time the Jazz played the Lakers, Ingles only scored three points in 22 minutes played. But in Utah’s last five games, he has gone over 2.5 three-pointers in three-straight contests. The Lakers have done a great job defending the three at 34.8% this season and in their last three games 29.8%, but the situation is an intriguing one.
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