The Utah Jazz (36-21) visit Tinseltown Wednesday to play the Los Angeles Lakers (26-31). Tip-off at the Crypto.com Arena is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Jazz vs. Lakers odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
Utah is on a 6-game winning streak – 5-1 against the spread (ATS) – with the latest being a 135-101 blowout of the visiting Houston Rockets. Utah C Rudy Gobert returned from a 9-game injury-related absence and finished with 14 points and 7 rebounds.
L.A. has lost three in a row (1-2 ATS), falling to the visiting Milwaukee Bucks (131-106 Feb. 8), the Trail Blazers in Portland (107-105 last Feb 9) and at the Warriors in Golden State (117-115 Saturday).
The Lakers upset the Jazz 101-95 at home Jan. 17 as 5.5-point underdogs and the Under cashed on a 230.5-point total.
Also see: Bet Slippin’ Podcast: NBA February 16 breakdown
Jazz at Lakers odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 4:18 p.m. ET.
- Money line: Jazz -200 (bet $200 to win $100) | Lakers +160 (bet $100 to win $160)
- Against the spread: Jazz -4.5 (-115) | Lakers +4.5 (-107)
- Over/Under: 225.5 (O: -112 | U: -108)
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Jazz at Lakers key injuries
Jazz
- None
Lakers
- SF Carmelo Anthony (hamstring) out
- PG Avery Bradley (knee) out
- PF Anthony Davis (wrist) probable
- SF LeBron James (knee) questionable
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Jazz at Lakers odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Lakers 115, Jazz 111
Money line
BET LAKERS (+160) for a tiny wager if at all because L.A. plus the points is the sharper play and most of my rationale for backing the Lakers is square.
The bottom line is I’ll take LeBron and AD at home in a prime-time game against a Jazz squad I’ve always considered frauds.
Furthermore, there’s significant reverse line movement (RLM) in L.A.’s direction on both the money line and spread. The Jazz opened as -250 favorites, which has gotten cheaper despite more than 75% of the cash being on Utah, according to Pregame.com.
Against the spread
BET LAKERS +4.5 (-107).
We are getting the same RLM in the ATS betting market and the Jazz are 1-5 ATS in their last six games versus the Lakers in L.A.
Also, I like how L.A.’s offense matches up with Utah’s defense. The Lakers get out in transition at the fourth-highest rate and the Jazz have the fourth-worst defensive efficiency in the fast break.
Plus, L.A. has turnover issues on offense but Utah has the second-worst defensive turnover rate.
For the record, the LOS ANGELES +4.5 (-107) is my favorite wager in this game.
Over/Under
PASS.
My prediction aligns too closely with the projected total, hence there’s no value in this number.
If anything, I “lean” Over 225.5 (-112) because the Lakers are 7-4 O/U when playing on 2-3 days of rest (plus-5.5 total margin), 18-12 O/U in at home and 5-0 O/U in their last five games as underdogs.
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