The Los Angeles Lakers take on the team with the best record in the NBA this season, the Utah Jazz. The Jazz are red-hot and have the best record in the league at 25-6. In fact, they are the only team in the NBA that still has fewer than 10 losses.
The Lakers have been trending in the wrong direction. They have sorely missed Anthony Davis and have lost four of their last five games dating back to when Davis was hurt against the Denver Nuggets. They also have been without Dennis Schroder, who will miss this game as well.
Schroder did not test positive for COVID-19 but is out because of contract tracing. If everything goes as planned, he should be good to return on Friday against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Jazz likely would have been small favorites as the home team even if the Lakers were at full strength because of how well they are playing this season. But with the Lakers missing two of their four best players and playing poorly, the Jazz are huge favorites in this game.
According to the Bet MGM odds on the Action Network, the Los Angeles Lakers enter this game as 8.5-point underdogs with a point total set at 218.5. You read that correctly, 8.5-point favorites.
As part of the Lake Show Life Podcast, I have been picking against the spread and the point total this season. I did miss the last game against the Washington Wizards (probably for the better) and went 0-2 against the Miami Heat. I now have a perfectly even 28-28 record on the season.
I have to keep the winning record intact.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Utah Jazz betting picks:
- Los Angeles Lakers +8.5, under 218.5 (FInal score: Utah Jazz 107, Los Angeles Lakers 102)
I have the Los Angeles Lakers losing this game and I did say in the above episode of the Lake Show Life Podcast that I would likely be picking against the Lakers on the betting picks. However, I did not expect the Lakers to get this many points and I have to take it.
You rarely get 8.5 points on a LeBron James team. You have to take advantage of that opportunity when it presents itself. Is there a chance that the Lakers play poorly and lose by double-figures? The way they are playing, absolutely.
However, I would feel much more foolish if I did not hop on the chance to get LeBron James as an 8.5-point dog.
The Lakers should be able to keep them from exploding offensively and they should hang around in this one. It will be a gritty, low-scoring game that picks up in the final quarter with the Lakers losing but just covering.
I always hate picking against the Los Angeles Lakers, but I have to be as objective as possible.