Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Lakers Predictions, Picks, Odds

The NBA’s Martin Luther King Day festivities will conclude on Monday night with a star-packed Western Conference showdown between the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers. Coverage begins from Staples Center at 10:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV.

SCORE PREDICTION

Jazz 119, Lakers 110

BEST BETS

Jazz -5 (-110) at BetMGM

UTAH JAZZ VS. LOS ANGELES LAKERS PREDICTIONS

After earning the top-seed in the West with a record of 52-20 SU last year, Utah posted a surprisingly pedestrian start to this season, as the Jazz went just 8-5 SU and 7-6 ATS across their first 13 contests – while averaging just 110.2 PPG during that timeframe.

The Jazz have played excellent at both ends of the floor since their opening stretch though, considering Utah sits at 20-9 SU across the last 29 games – currently ranked 1st in both scoring and offensive efficiency (115.1 PPG, 1.131 OE) – and ranked 12th in points allowed and 13th in defensive efficiency (107.6 PPG, 1.057 DE).

On the other hand, Los Angeles stumbled out to a lackluster start following the groundbreaking acquisition of Russell Westbrook, as the Lakers opened with a disappointing 10-11 SU and 7-14 ATS skid – despite getting tagged as favorites in 12 of those matchups.

Los Angeles has maintained a similarly deficient pace through January too, considering the Lakers enter Monday’s contest sitting at 11-11 SU and 10-12 ATS across the last 22 games – yet the oddsmakers refuse to give up on them, considering they were favored in 17 of those affairs.

I’ll lay the points with Utah here, as the Lakers have been a mess since the Holidays, currently sitting at 5-9 SU and 6-6 ATS across the last 12 games, with six of those losses coming by eight points or more – setting the stage for a tough matchup against a Jazz squad that’s 21-9 SU across the last 30 games.

UTAH JAZZ VS. LOS ANGELES LAKERS BETTING ODDS

  • Jazz -180
  • Lakers +155
  • Jazz -4 (-115)
  • Lakers +4 (-105)
  • Over 231.5 (-110)
  • Under 231.5 (-110)

More Odds | Futures Odds

UTAH JAZZ VS. LOS ANGELES LAKERS BETTING RESOURCES

  • Matchup: Northwest vs. Pacific
  • Date: Monday, January 17, 2022
  • Venue: Crypto.com Arena
  • Location: Los Angeles, California
  • TV-Time: NBATV - 10:30 p.m. ET
  • Injury Report

UTAH JAZZ BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 29-14
  • ATS: 20-22-1
  • O/U: 23-19-1

Utah has been the most consistent squad in the West over the last few regular seasons, which is no coincidence, considering the Jazz wield a perfectly balanced mode of attack– and continuously find new ways to improve upon their approach. 

The Jazz currently lead the league in both scoring and offensive efficiency (115.1 PPG, 1.131 OE), and when stellar shooting is combined with Utah’s 13th ranked defensive rating (1.057 DE) – consistency rarely becomes an issue.

LOS ANGELES LAKERS BETTING ANALYSIS

Straight Up - SU, Against the Spread - ATS, Over-Under (O/U)

  • SU: 21-22
  • ATS: 17-26
  • O/U: 24-18-1

Regardless of the circumstances, hovering below .500 is a disappointment for this new-look Lakers’ squad, but to be fair, they’ve been banged up from the start, so it’s tough to write them off completely, considering LeBron James has already missed 12 games this year – while AD has missed 16, and still slated to miss additional time with an MCL sprain.

Despite their downfalls, the Lakers tread at seventh in the West with a record of 21-22 SU, landing them in the middle of a tight cluster that includes the Mavericks (24-19), Nuggets (22-19), Clippers (21-23) and Timberwolves (20-22).

There’s still plenty of time for the Lakers to turn things around and push for a higher seed; they just need to get healthy first – and ultimately, shoot the ball better, considering L. A. currently ranks 24th in offensive efficiency and 14th in three-point percentage (1.057 OE, 35.2% 3FG).

The Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last five matchups against Utah. (AP)

UTAH JAZZ VS. LOS ANGELES LAKERS HEAD-TO-HEAD

The Jazz won two-of-three regular-season matchups against the Lakers last year, with both of Utah’s victories staying well under the total at an average of 205.5 PPG – while L. A.’s lone victory soared over with a score of 127-115.

KEY PLAYERS TO WATCH

  • UTA: Donovan Mitchell - SG (25.7 PPG, 3.8 REB, 5.1 AST)
  • UTA: Rudy Gobert - C (15.5 PPG, 15.5 REB, 2.3 BLK)
  • LAL: LeBron James - SF (28.9 PPG, 7.5 REB, 6.5 AST)
  • LAL: Russell Westbrook - PG (18.7 PPG, 8.1 REB, 8 AST)

UTAH JAZZ VS. LOS ANGELES LAKERS BETTING CONCLUSION

After posting three straight losses by eight points or more, the Lakers enter Monday’s contest as five-point home underdogs against the visiting Jazz – marking just the second time L. A. has been an underdog across the last eight games.

I’ll lay the points with Utah here, as the Jazz and Lakers have both struggled recently, considering both teams enter Monday sitting at 1-3 SU across the last four games – but my vote of confidence ultimately belongs to Utah’s top-ranked offensive attack in Monday’s nightcap (115 PPG).

UTAH JAZZ VS. LOS ANGELES LAKERS BETTING TRENDS

  • The Jazz are 1-4 ATS in their last five matchups against the Lakers.
  • The total has gone OVER in five straight Lakers' games.
  • The Jazz are 1-4 ATS in their last five games.
  • The Lakers are 6-1 SU in their last seven home games.