Even this early in the NBA season, the elite teams in the Western Conference are pretty well-defined. San Antonio and Oklahoma City will fight it out all season long for the top spot. But the rest of the Western playoff picture is still up in the air, and both the Lakers and the Jazz expect to be in the mix. This should be a fun early-season measuring stick game for two teams that made plenty of offseason headlines.
The Lakers enter as 6.5-point favorites, with the game total set at 235.5 at DraftKings Sportsbook. Let’s get into my prediction and best bet for this Western Conference matchup.
Lakers vs. Jazz Preview
After the Lakers remade their roster in the offseason, a lot of eyes were on Luka Doncic. General manager Rob Pelinka got the green light to rebuild the roster with Doncic in mind, and the results are already paying off. New signings like Quentin Grimes, Sandro Mamukelashvili, Matisse Thybulle, and Ziaire Williams are playing productive minutes early, but the most impactful addition to this point has been Walker Kessler.
Los Angeles paid a pretty penny in the offseason to acquire the big man from Utah. Jazz GM Danny Ainge didn’t want to pay up for the restricted free agent, and the Lakers swooped in with a big contract and plenty of draft picks. So far, Kessler looks worth the price. In addition to grabbing 17 boards and blocking eight shots over their first two games, Kessler has scored a whopping 48 points. He’s enjoying life as a lob target for Doncic and Austin Reaves, and that should continue on Sunday.
The Lakers offense has been excellent, which is to be expected. But because of Kessler and the rest of the new additions, they’ve posted an above-average defensive rating so far. A Lakers team with this kind of offense and a passable defense can be a dangerous force in the West.
Utah’s start to the season has been a bit shakier than what we’ve seen from Los Angeles. The Jazz lost their opener to the Grizzlies, as they were unable to find an answer for Memphis guard Ty Jerome. The second game against the Pelicans was closer than they would have wanted, but their well-balanced offense delivered in a 120-119 win. Seven Utah players scored in double digits, led by Jaren Jackson Jr. — their new starting center. Head coach Will Hardy has to be loving all of the new toys to play with offensively.
It’s going to take some time for this group to gel together. Between Jackson Jr, Darryn Peterson, and their offseason signings, there are a lot of new faces to get used to. The team has a new identity to build and an offensive hierarchy to establish. Utah also patiently awaits the return of Jusuf Nurkic, an important offensive cog because of his screening and passing. For now, we’ll see what they can put together and enjoy the ride.
Lakers vs. Jazz Best Bet
It’s going to take this Jazz team a while to figure out their defense. With Nurkic out and Kessler wearing the other team’s jersey, they’re light on the physical interior presence this matchup demands. Luka Doncic will be able to feast on this paltry Utah perimeter defense, and I expect the Lakers to roll through Salt Lake City with another fiery offensive performance.
