Analysis of Jazz vs Lakers Matchup: Predictions, Player Props, Injury Updates, and Odds for Doncic’s Debut

• Luka Doncic is likely to make his debut for the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night against the Utah Jazz
• The Lakers have won five straight games to climb to fifth in the West
• See the Jazz vs Lakers predictions, player props, and best odds for Doncic, LeBron, and more

The moment everyone in Laker Nation has been waiting for has finally arrived. On Monday night, Luka Doncic is poised to make his debut in purple and gold when his Los Angeles Lakers (31-19, 18-6 home, 27-22-1 ATS) host the bottom-dwelling Utah Jazz (12-39, 7-21 away, 26-25 ATS) at crypto.com Arena at 7:40 pm PT/10:40 pm ET. There could be some awkward moments on the court for the Lakers, who tried to trade Dalton Knecht and Cam Reddish to the Hornets on the weekend for center Mark Williams. But Williams failed his physical and the trade fell through, leaving LAL without a true center post-Anthony Davis. Despite an inevitably small lineup, the Lakers are favored by as many as 13 points in Monday’s NBA odds.

UTah Jazz vs Los Angeles Lakers Predictions

• Jazz +13.0 (-110) at bet365 or Caesars
• Doncic under 7.5 assists (-130) at FanDuel

These likely aren’t the bets that most people want to see on here: the Jazz to cover the spread and a Doncic under. But I’m not here to make friends.

The 25-year-old Doncic was averaging 28.1 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 7.8 APG with Dallas before the megatrade that shook the very foundations of the league. Now he joins a Lakers group in which LeBron James is averaging 9.0 assists per game, the third-highest mark of his legendary career. On top of that, two-guard Austin Reaves has made big strides as a play-maker the last two seasons, averaging 5.5 APG last year and upping that to 6.1 APG this year.

In other words, the Lakers don’t lack for players to run the point, and it’s hard to envision Doncic – with a less-than-100% calf and little familiar with the offense or his teammates – coming in and immediately playing the role of distributor.

I’m backing the Jazz to cover the spread because their strengths are, at least on paper, the Lakers’ weaknesses. Utah sits fourth in the NBA in REB% at 51.7% and stands a good chance of dominating the glass against a Los Angeles that just dealt its leading rebounder, Anthony Davis (11.9 RPG), and still hasn’t picked up a front-court replacement. Doncic’s 8.3 RPG immediately jump to top of LA’s stats page.

The Jazz will be missing point guard Collin Sexton (18.3 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 4.1 APG), which is a big blow. But with a pair of seven-footers on the court in Lauri Markkanen (19.3 PPG, 6.2 RPG) and Walker Kessler (11.2 PPG, 11.9 RPG), Utah should be able to outscore the Lakers in the paint by a sizable margin.

UTAH vs LAL Injury Reports

Both Doncic and James are officially listed as questionable for tonight’s game against the Jazz. It’s unclear what’s happening with Knecht and Reddish at this point. Both are clearly on the trade block but technically still Lakers for now.

Jazz vs Lakers Player Props

Doncic and James are two players who stuff almost every column of the stat sheet and they have remarkably similar over/unders on Monday night. Doncic has the highest point total at 26.5, one higher than LeBron. They both have rebound and assist totals of 7.5, the second-highest on the board in both categories

Jazz center Walker Kessler (11.2 PPG, 11.9 RPG) has the highest rebound total at 10.5 while point guard Isaiah Collier (6.4 PPG, 5.6 APG), who’s been thrust into the starting role with Collin Sexton injured, has the highest assist total at 8.5.

Best Available Jazz vs Lakers Odds

The Jazz vs Lakers spread shows a half-point range as of Monday morning. The number is as big as LAL -13.0 and as small as LAL -12.5. The best ATS price on the Jazz at the moment is +13 (-110) at bet365, Caesars, and FanDuel. The best ATS price on the Lakers is -12.5 (-115) at BetMGM. If you’re willing to forego the hook, you can get -13.0 (-108) at DraftKings.

The Lakers’ moneyline is -800 or shorter at most books. The two exceptions are FanDuel and DraftKings, which both list LAL at -75o to win straight-up. The longest moneyline price on the Jazz is currently +550, which is available at a trio of books: bet365, BetMGM, and Caesars.

There is a full one-point range in the game total. FanDuel has the number the lowest O/U at 234.5, making it the best option for over bettors. BetMGM and bet365 both have the total a point higher with -110 odds each way.

The public is, somewhat surprisingly, not flocking to the Lakers to cover the spread, at least not yet. LA is getting just 51% of ATS handle on 41% of the ATS tickets in Monday’s NBA public betting splits. That said, a staggering 98% of moneyline handle is on the Lakers to win straight-up, despite the very short odds.

The highly anticipated matchup between the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Lakers is set to take place this week, and fans are buzzing with excitement. Both teams have been performing well this season, making this game a must-watch for basketball enthusiasts.

One of the biggest storylines heading into this game is the debut of Luka Doncic for the Lakers. The young star has been making waves in the league with his impressive play, and fans are eager to see how he will perform in his first game with his new team. Doncic’s addition to the Lakers lineup adds another dimension to an already formidable roster, and his presence on the court is sure to have an impact on the outcome of the game.

In terms of predictions, this matchup is expected to be a close one. Both the Jazz and the Lakers have strong rosters and have been playing well recently. The Jazz are currently sitting at the top of the Western Conference standings, while the Lakers are not far behind. With both teams vying for playoff positioning, this game is crucial for both sides.

Player props are always a fun aspect of any game, and this matchup is no exception. With players like LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Donovan Mitchell, and Rudy Gobert taking the court, there are plenty of opportunities for some exciting player prop bets. Whether it’s predicting who will score the most points, grab the most rebounds, or dish out the most assists, there are plenty of options for fans looking to add some extra excitement to the game.

In terms of injury updates, both teams are relatively healthy heading into this matchup. The Lakers have been dealing with some minor injuries to key players like Davis and James, but both are expected to be ready to go for this game. The Jazz have also been relatively healthy, with Mitchell recently returning from a brief absence due to an ankle injury.

As for the odds, the Jazz are currently favored to win this game. However, with Doncic making his debut for the Lakers, anything is possible. The odds may shift as game time approaches, so it’s important for fans to stay updated on the latest betting lines.

Overall, this matchup between the Jazz and the Lakers is shaping up to be an exciting one. With Doncic’s debut, player props, injury updates, and shifting odds, there are plenty of factors to consider when predicting the outcome of this game. Fans can expect a competitive and entertaining matchup between two of the top teams in the Western Conference.