Los Angeles Lakers: 3 Players to watch against the Utah Jazz

– Kyle Kuzma

After missing two games with a back contusion, Kyle Kuzma made his return to the lineup against the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night. In his first game back, Kuzma struggled as he went 4-for-20 from the field. While the back might not have been 100 percent, having his ability to score on the court did pose a threat to the defense and the team got a win despite his struggles.

In the last game against the Pistons, Kuzma not only looked healthy, but he looked like an All-Star. In three quarters, Kuzma scored 41 points on 16-for-24 shooting from the field. The 41 points for Kuzma was a career-high, and he did it in just 29 minutes. While he likely could have reached 50, not having to play him in the lopsided game in the fourth quarter was certainly good for his back.

With James out, Kuzma is currently the best scorer that the Lakers have. His ability to score in multiple ways makes him a true threat on the offensive end of the court, and the Lakers clearly missed him in the two games he was out. Against the defensive-minded Jazz, Kuzma might not reach 40 points again, but he will be one of the top scorers for the Lakers in this game.