LeBron James might be emotionally spent after a two-game road trip against his former teams. James looked great against the Heat and Cavaliers to lead the Los Angeles Lakers to a pair of wins, but any sign of an off game could have the team in dire straits next time out. The Utah Jazz would love to be the benefactor of a letdown as they will travel to Los Angeles for this Western Conference matchup.
Both of these teams feel like they are good enough to make the playoffs and every win means plenty in a stacked conference. Utah has been solid on the road this year and will aim to keep up that trend. The Lakers are playing better after a clunky start and this game could be a competitive one in NBA betting lines.
This NBA basketball game between the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers will be held at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California at 8:30 p.m ET on Friday, November 23rd, 2018. The game will be nationally televised on NBATV.
We'll have NBA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for every game of the 2018 NBA season.
NBA Betting at BookMaker.eu
Odds Analysis
The Lakers are 10-7 on the season following a win over the Cavaliers last time out. Los Angeles has played in eight home games on the season and has won five of them.
The Jazz are 8-10 following a road loss to the Sacramento Kings. Utah got off to a nice start but has lost four of its past five games to drop back below .500 on the year. Utah prefers to play at a slower pace while the Lakers will push the tempo, so it will be interesting to see where the scoring total checks in for this one.
This game has live betting capability because it is going to be televised to a national audience. This is a great way to wager on the action after the game tips off in NBA gambling.
Player To Watch
Donovan Mitchell -- The Jazz play good defense and has solid depth, but has been struggling lately because its leading scorer has not been playing well. Mitchell is averaging more than 20 points per game on the year but was shooting poorly in recent games until breaking out on Wednesday with 35 points on 13-of-23 shooting against the Kings.
Mitchell has played a big role for the Jazz since being drafted and will be needed to lead the way on offense if this team is to live up to its expectations and make the playoffs. Utah has the more well-rounded starting lineup in this matchup against the Lakers, but if LeBron plays well and Mitchell can’t match him, Los Angeles should be able to pull away.
Key Stat
8. That’s the number of wins for the Lakers in their past 10 games. There was early turbulence and there were even worries about coach Luke Walton’s job but everything has been smoothed out of late. James is playing well and the complementary players around him are figuring out their roles.
This is a tough matchup because Utah is disciplined on defense and will try to force the players around James to beat them. The absence of point guard Rajon Rondo could be an issue for the Lakers as they aim to find a rhythm in the half court.
Free NBA ATS Picks
Utah has not looked good thus far but this one seems ripe for the taking. The Lakers will try to head home and bring some intensity but it is hard to get the energy up after two bigger games recently in regards to James’ past. Look for the Jazz to take the lead early and keep it for the easy win.
The Lakers will fall flat in this matchup. It’s a good idea to see what the teams’ energy level looks like early on and follow with some action in NBA live betting.
NBA ATS Pick: Utah Jazz 107, Los Angeles Lakers 99
BookMaker offers play-by-play betting odds for live sporting events every day! The user-friendly wagering interface on your smartphone provides an easy way to place bets on the go. Mobile betting lines are updated by the minute, so click here to start gambling on thrilling live action at BookMaker Sportsbook!
