Despite Utah’s struggles, sitting at 3-10 and coming off a two-game losing streak, the Lakers must stay vigilant. They are currently enjoying a five-game winning streak and have won four of their last five matchups against the Jazz, having not lost on their home court to Utah since 2021.

However, anything can happen in the NBA. The Jazz have faced some narrow defeats recently and possess significant talent, particularly on offense. The Lakers cannot afford to underestimate them, as they did earlier against the Pelicans. Every game matters, regardless of a team’s record or available players.

Now, let’s discuss the injury report. The Lakers have seven players listed. Christian Wood, Jared Vanderbilt, Jaylen Hoard, and Jackson Hayes are ruled out. Rui Hachimura, Ronnie James, and Anthony Davis are marked as questionable; however, Davis has been playing through a foot injury and is likely to suit up, especially after the break. Hachimura, on the other hand, missed the last two games, so we’ll need to wait for official confirmation on his status.

For the Jazz, they have two players listed as out: Taylor Hendricks, who is sidelined for the season due to a broken fibula and dislocated ankle, and Walker Kessler, who has a hip injury. This is a significant blow for Utah, as Kessler is their starting center and primary rim protector. His absence will likely create a mismatch against Anthony Davis, who is a frontrunner for MVP this season.

Kessler leads the Jazz in both rebounds and blocks, averaging over ten rebounds and two blocks per game. Without him, Utah lacks a player who can effectively defend Davis one-on-one. Interestingly, Lowry Markkanen, Utah’s starting power forward, is 7 feet tall but has yet to record a block this season, making the matchup even more favorable for Davis.

As for game-day picks, I’m teaming up with Underdog Fantasy to enhance the excitement of the NBA season. For today’s picks, if you’re a new member, you can select Steph Curry to score higher than 0.5 points—an easy win! My other picks include Anthony Davis scoring higher than 28.5 points, given the Jazz’s weaker frontcourt, and Rui Hachimura getting over 4.5 rebounds, considering his recent averages. Lastly, I predict Collin Sexton will score higher than 14.5 points, as he tends to perform well against the Lakers.

Returning to the game analysis, the Lakers must not underestimate an inferior opponent. Applying defensive pressure is crucial, especially since the Jazz lead the league in turnovers, averaging nearly 19 per game. They also allow the most points off turnovers, which could provide easy scoring opportunities for the Lakers, particularly in transition.

Utah gives up the ninth-most points in the paint, which is a concern without Kessler. If Davis gets any one-on-one coverage, he is likely to exploit it. Expect the Lakers to run plenty of high pick-and-roll plays to create mismatches and quick offensive actions to get Davis the ball near the rim.

While the Lakers should dominate the paint, they will face double teams whenever Davis posts up. Both he and LeBron James will attract defensive attention, especially from John Collins and other guards.

In conclusion, while the Lakers are favored to win, they must remain focused and execute their game plan effectively to avoid any surprises from the Jazz.