Written by :
Published on :
Lakers vs. Jazz odds on tonight's game (April 2, 2010) were set at Los Angeles -4 ½ at SBG Global (see website here)
The Los Angeles Lakers host the Utah Jazz tonight in a Western Conference clash featuring 2 of the top 3 teams in the West tonight. The Lakers have owned the Jazz in Los Angeles, but the Jazz are the hotter team entering tonight. The Lakers are 5 point favorites with a total of 205 points tonight. ESPN will air tonight's contest at 10:30 EDT.
Los Angeles returns home after a very disappointing road trip that saw them go 2-3 SU. While the 2-3 record doesn't look bad, the way the Lakers lost those games does. Los Angeles is dealing with a little turmoil amongst their players so it will be interesting to see how they play in front of their fans tonight. The Lakers still have the best record in the Western Conference at 54-21 SU. The Lakers hold a 4.5 game lead over the Dallas Mavericks for homecourt advantage in the Western Conference. Speaking of homecourt, the Lakers are 32-5 SU and 15-21-1 ATS at home this season. The Lakers are 27-34 ATS as the listed favorite this season. Despite focusing on defense, the Lakers have allowed each of their past 3 opponents to score more than 100 PTS against them. The Lakers will be looking to avoid losing 3 consecutive games SU for the 2nd time this month. G Kobe Bryant is 1 of 3 players averaging more than 15 PPG for the Lakers this season. Bryant is 4th in
the NBA in scoring, averaging 27.2 PPG this season. Bryant has gone over his average in back to back games, after being held under that average for 5 consecutive games. This -5 number the Lakers are favored by is the 3rd smallest spread the Lakers have faced at home this season.
The Lakers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a SU loss of more than 10 points. The under is 7-2 in their last 9 games as the listed home favorite. Center Andrew Bynum is out for a few more games with an achilles injury. Forward Ron Artest is nursing an ankle injury, but is listed as probable tonight.
Utah is surging up the Western Conference standings, thanks to a current 8-2 SU stretch. Utah is up to 3rd in the Western Conference playoff standings, and are only 4.5 games behind their opponent today. Utah will have their work cut out today sustaining their hot streak, as they've lost the past 13 games against the Lakers in Los Angeles. Utah will need to play great defense in order to win tonight, as the Lakers have averaged 114 PPG and 51% shooting during that 13 game home winning streak against the Jazz. Utah is 50-26 SU and 47-26-3 ATS overall this season. The Jazz are 19-18 SU and 21-15-1 ATS on the road this season. The Jazz are 12-9 ATS as the listed underdog this year. Offensively, Utah has been nearly unstoppable of late. Over their past 11 games, the Jazz are averaging 110.4 PPG. The Jazz are 24-9 SU in games after they've scored at least 105 PTS. PG Deron Williams has done a superb job directing this offense, always delivering the ball in
the perfect spot. Williams had a season high 19 assists in his last game. F Carlos Boozer has struggled against the Lakers this season, averaging less than 13 PPG over 3 meetings. Boozer enters tonight averaging 24.3 PTS over his past 3 games.
Utah is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games against a team with a winning home record. The under is 5-0 in their last 5 games after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game. Forward Andrei Kirilenko continues be out with a calf injury. Otherwise the active roster is relatively healthy.
Johnny Detroit, Gambling911.com
