Jazz Continue Playoff Push Against Lakers
By Ryan Murphy in NBA Basketball
Updated: April 11, 2018 at 8:24 am EDTPublished:
- The Jazz will try to complete their season sweep of the Lakers on Sunday night
- Will Donovan Mitchell boost his Rookie of the Year candidacy with another signature performance?
- Can Rudy Gobert slow down the Lakers’ fast-paced offense?
Playoff positioning is on the line on Sunday night as the Jazz (46-33, 19-20 away) tangle with the Lakers (34-45, 20-18 home) in Los Angeles. Utah is one of six teams separated by two games in the West and a win against LA would help push them closer to their second consecutive playoff berth.
The Lakers haven’t been to the postseason since the end of the Kobe Bryant era, but Luke Walton’s aggressive, young team shouldn’t be overlooked. LA pulled off an impressive overtime victory against San Antonio on Wednesday night and has the athleticism and speed to give teams fits.
Ryan Murphy 2017-18 Season Stats
- ATS record: 62-37 (62.6-percent)
- SU record: 388-154 (71.5-percent)
- O/U record: 45-37 (54.8-percent)
Utah Jazz vs Los Angeles Lakers Team Stats
OFFENSE
| 106.0 | Offense Rating | 104.4 |
| 103.8 | Points | 108.4 |
| 43.0 | Rebounds | 46.3 |
| 22.2 | Assists | 23.9 |
| 46.0 | Field-Goal Percentage | 46.2 |
| 36.5 | Three-Point Percentage | 34.6 |
| 3.7 | Plus/Minus | -1.3 |
DEFENSE
| 102.0 | Defense Rating | 105.6 |
| 100.2 | Points | 109.7 |
| 41.6 | Rebounds | 44.8 |
| 45.1 | Field-Goal Percentage | 45.6 |
| 36.9 | Three-Point Percentage | 34.6 |
| 41.6 | Points In Point | 48.8 |
Head-to-Head Results
| Date | Location | Score | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct. 28 | Utah | 96-81 | Utah |
| Apr. 3 | Utah | 117-110 | Utah |
The Jazz have won both of their games against the Lakers this season in convincing fashion. Utah crushed LA by 15 points during their first meeting thanks to 22 points from Donovan Mitchell. The rookie shooting guard had his way with the Lakers again on April 3rd, going off for 26 points and six rebounds in a breezy 117-110 win.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiZZywU2iQE
Notable Injuries and Absences
| Jazz | Lakers |
|---|---|
| Thabo Sefolosha (MCL) | Lonzo Ball (knee) |
| Brandon Ingram (concussion) |
Straight Up Advice: Jazz (115-108)
Get out the brooms! Utah hammered LA in their two previous games this season and should have little trouble pulling off the sweep on Sunday night. Not only do the Jazz have a vastly superior defense, but they also have considerably more on the line as they try to secure a playoff spot with just three games remaining. Expect Quin Snyder to stick with his regular rotation and to run Ricky Rubio, Donovan Mitchell, and Rudy Gobert into the ground, if necessary.
LA may have a brighter future, but for now at least, Utah is the superior team.
Team Trends
| Jazz | Lakers |
|---|---|
| Utah is 19-20 SU on the road | Los Angeles is 20-19 SU at home |
| Utah is 7-3 SU in its last ten games | Los Angeles is 3-7 SU in its last ten games |
| Utah is 31-13 SU as a favorite | Los Angeles is 22-39 SU as an underdog |
| Utah is 32-17 SU in conference games | Los Angeles is 18-31 in conference games |
| Utah is 40-39 ATS this season (50.6-percent) | Los Angeles is 42-37 ATS this season (53.2-percent) |
| Utah is 20-19 ATS on the road | Los Angeles is 21-18 ATS at home |
Additional SU Picks (April 8)
Jazz vs Lakers is just one of seven games scheduled for Sunday. Here are our other six straight up picks.
| Match Up | SU Pick |
|---|---|
| Pacers vs Hornets | Pacers |
| Mavs vs 76ers | 76ers |
| Hawks vs Celtics | Celtics |
| Pistons vs Grizzlies | Pistons |
| Magic vs Raptors | Raptors |
| Warriors vs Suns | Warriors |
Former Sports Writer
Ryan worked as an Editor and resident Lead NBA and MLB Writer for SB from 2017-19. He has authored his own weekly columns for Fox Sports and AskMen, and has created successful campaigns for the WWE, the NHL, and the NFL. Ryan's critically acclaimed stories have been published in 20 books.
