Utah Jazz vs Los Angeles Lakers Picks and Predictions December 1st 2024

At 8:00 ET, the 11-8 Lakers (-314) will take on the 4-15 Jazz (+255) in Salt Lake City. The Lakers are favored by 7.5 points and the over/under line is set at 229.

This Western Conference matchup will be played at the Delta Center and can be seen on SN-LA.

Lakers vs. Jazz Key Information

• Sport: NBA
• Teams: Los Angeles Lakers at Utah Jazz
• Where: Salt Lake City at Delta Center
• Date: Sunday, December 1st
• Betting Odds LAL -7.5, LAL -314 | UTA +255 O/U 229

The Lakers Can Win If…

The Lakers dropped to 11-8 on the season after a 101-93 home loss to the Thunder on Friday. Despite being +3 point underdogs, L.A. failed to cover the spread. The game’s total points of 194 fell well short of the 229.5 O/U line.

After falling behind 32-24 in the 1st quarter, the Lakers tightened up defensively, winning the 2nd quarter 24-19 and the 3rd 21-20. However, they couldn’t keep up in the 4th, as the Thunder outscored them 30-24 to close out the game.

In their 101-93 loss to the Thunder, the Lakers struggled offensively, shooting 28.9% from three-point range and hitting just 11 threes. Their overall field goal percentage was 45.2%.

Dalton Knecht led the Lakers with 20 points, hitting 6 threes at 46.2%. D’Angelo Russell added 17 points, making 4 threes at 44.4%, while Anthony Davis contributed 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Despite a strong defensive effort, the Lakers couldn’t secure the win against the Thunder, allowing 101 points. They tightened up in the 2nd and 3rd quarters, giving up just 19 and 20 points, respectively, but struggled in the 1st and 4th, where they allowed 32 and 30 points.

Overall, the Lakers held the Thunder to 40% shooting, including 32% from three-point range, with Oklahoma City hitting 13 threes. The Thunder also went 12/16 from the free-throw line. The Lakers gave up 15 offensive rebounds while recording 4 steals and 6 blocks.

• In their last ten games away from home, the Lakers have a straight up record of 4-6 while going 4-6 vs the spread. The team’s offense averaged 111 points per game in these contests.
• Going back to their previous three games as the favorite, Los Angeles has an ATS mark of 1-2 while going 1-2 straight up.
• Over their last three games, the Lakers have an over/under record of 0-3 and are 1-2 vs. the spread.

The Jazz Can Win If…

The Jazz fell to 4-15 on the season after a 106-94 home loss to the Mavericks on Saturday. Utah entered the game as +6 point underdogs and failed to cover the spread. The total score of 200 points was well below the 230-point O/U line.

Dallas went on a 13-0 run, turning a 30-20 deficit into a 33-30 lead. Utah responded by outscoring the Mavericks 27-16 in the 2nd quarter, but Dallas edged them out 30-27 in the 3rd and 20-18 in the 4th.

In their 106-94 loss to the Mavericks, the Jazz struggled offensively, shooting just 35.8% from the field and hitting only 9 threes at a 23.1% clip. Lauri Markkanen led the team with 19 points, though he shot 35% from the field and made just 2 threes, connecting at 18.2%.

Walker Kessler contributed 18 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 77.8%, while John Collins added 16 points and 9 boards. Brice Sensabaugh scored 8 of his 13 points in the opening quarter.

Despite a tough 1st quarter where they allowed 40 points, the Jazz tightened up defensively in the 2nd, giving up just 16 points. They also held the Mavericks to 20 points in the 4th quarter but ultimately allowed 106 points in the loss.

Overall, the Jazz allowed the Mavericks to shoot 45% from the field, including 38% from three-point range, where Dallas hit 15 threes. Utah sent the Mavericks to the line 15 times, where they made 9 free throws. The Jazz also recorded 10 steals and 7 blocks.

• Through their last ten home games, Utah has an ATS record of just 6-4. However, their overall record was 2-8 while averaging 112 points per game.
• Going back to their previous ten games as the underdog, Utah has an ATS mark of 4-6 while going 2-8 straight up.
• In their last three games, the Jazz have an over/under record of 1-2 and are 0-3 vs. the spread.

The Lean

For a point-spread wager in this Lakers vs. Jazz game, we suggest taking the Jazz at +7.5. Even though our predictions have the Lakers winning 122-115, we see the Jazz as the better choice on the point-spread.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 229 and our model has the Lakers and Jazz finishing with a combined 237 points. Our pick is to take the over.

Utah Jazz Seek Breakthrough in Clash With Lakers

The Utah Jazz are eager to end their losing skid when they host the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night in Salt Lake City. Despite losing three straight and seven of their last eight games, Jazz coach Will Hardy sees reason for optimism.

“If the competitiveness, the togetherness, the energy, the fight is at that level every night, there’s a lot of good things ahead in Utah,” Hardy said after a 106-94 loss to the Mavericks on Saturday.

Utah showcased resilience in that game, trimming a 20-point deficit to just three in the third quarter, despite a poor shooting night (35.8 percent from the field, 23.1 percent from 3-point range).

Markkanen and Kessler Lead Jazz Efforts

Lauri Markkanen scored a team-high 19 points against Dallas but struggled with efficiency, shooting just 7-of-20 from the floor and 2-of-11 from deep. Walker Kessler, however, shined with an 18-point, 10-rebound, five-block, three-steal performance.

Hardy was encouraged by the defensive intensity and competitiveness, praising the team’s effort despite offensive struggles:

“We guarded well enough to win the game. We competed well enough to win the game. We just didn’t shoot well enough to win the game,” Hardy said.

Utah will need both stars to step up as they face a Lakers squad that defeated them 124-118 in their last meeting on Nov. 19.

Lakers Search for Consistency Amidst Struggles

The Los Angeles Lakers are also coming off a tough stretch, having lost four of their last five games. In Friday’s 101-93 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, Dalton Knecht led the Lakers with 20 points, but the team couldn’t hold off a late surge by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder.

Lakers coach JJ Redick found positives in the defensive effort despite the loss:

“That was as connected as our group has been on that end of the floor since the first game of the season,” Redick said.

In their most recent win against Utah, the Lakers relied on strong performances from LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Knecht, who exploded for 37 points on 12-of-16 shooting, including 9-of-12 from 3-point range.

Key Matchups to Watch

Markkanen vs. Davis

Markkanen’s ability to bounce back from a poor shooting night will be critical against Davis, one of the league’s most versatile defenders.

Walker Kessler vs. Lakers’ Bigs

Kessler’s defensive presence and rebounding will be key to countering the Lakers’ interior scoring threats.

Dalton Knecht’s Perimeter Shooting

Knecht’s hot hand in the last matchup against the Jazz will make him a focus of Utah’s defensive game plan.

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Injury Updates

Jazz

• Collin Sexton (hamstring): Day-to-day.
• Simone Fontecchio (ankle): Expected to miss Sunday’s game.

Lakers

• Anthony Davis (calf): Expected to play.
• Gabe Vincent (knee): Day-to-day.

Prediction

Both teams are searching for consistency and a much-needed win. The Jazz have the advantage of home court, but the Lakers’ experience and recent success against Utah could tilt the scales.

Final Score Prediction: Lakers 112, Jazz 107

The game could hinge on Markkanen rediscovering his scoring touch and Utah limiting Knecht’s perimeter shooting. However, Los Angeles’ veteran presence may prove decisive in the closing minutes.