The LA
Lakers continue their six-game road trip with a stop in Salt Lake City where
they’ll take on the Jazz. Tip-off is slated for 9:00 PM ET at EnergySolutions
Arena.
The NBA odds makers opened with Utah favored by -1.5
but early betting has shifted the spread to 2 with the total now resting at 186.
Los Angeles (14-9 SU, 11-12 ATS) improved to 3-7 away
from Staples with a 93-89 victory in Denver on the first stop of their “Grammy Road
Trip”. Staples Center is being used for this year’s Grammy presentation that
means both the Lakers and Clippers have been forced from their dwelling until
Valentine’s Day. In the interim the Lakers visit snowy Utah tonight then move
east for stops (weather permitting) in Philadelphia, Boston, New York and
Toronto next week.
Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol each had double-doubles
for the Lakers. In his first game since becoming an All-Star for the first
time, Bynum had 22 points on 10-for-13 shooting to go with 10 rebounds. Gasol
added 14 points and 17 rebounds while Kobe Bryant scored 20 points but was just
7 of 23 shooting. The Lakers got another strong performance from College of Charleston
rookie Andrew Goudelock who scored 13 points in 20 minutes on 6 of 10 shooting.
Overall LA hit 48 percent from the field and out-rebounded
Denver 48-40. The Lakers covered as a +4 point underdog and are now 3-9 ATS in
their last 12 road games. The victory also gave Los Angeles back-to-back road
wins for the first time this year.
Back
to work
In their last outing on Thursday night, the Jazz
(12-9 SU, 11-10 ATS) were on the receiving end of a 119-101 spanking
administered by the Golden State Warriors. Former Butler Bulldog Gordon Hayward
led the Jazz with 21 points while Al Jefferson and Josh Howard had 19 apiece. Utah
failed miserably ATS despite getting +5.5 points. The combined 220 points
easily topped the total of 197.
This will be the third series meeting of the year
and the Jazz are already in a ‘double revenge’ spot. The Lakers rolled to a
96-71 Staples victory on December 27 and then came back on January 11 at
EnergySolutions Arena with a 90-87 overtime victory. Kobe scored 40 points for
the winners while Paul Milsap had 29 for the Jazz.
Injury
updates
Devin Harris (strained left hamstring) will be
a game-time decision tonight. He said after the loss to Golden State his
hamstring is not where he wants it to be and he's unsure whether he'll be able
to play. Harris will receive treatment Friday and re-evaluate his injury during
the afternoon shoot around.
Earl Watson (sprained left ankle) and Raja Bell
(strained right adductor) are day-to-day and neither was with the team in
Oakland. If Harris and Watson are forced to sit again, Jamal Tinsley a
nine-year NBA veteran and recent D-Leaguer will get the start.
Tough
stretch
The Jazz are 12-9 and have lost four of six. Not
only will Utah play 22 of its next 34 on the road, but the team's next seven
contests set up its tough two-month journey. The Jazz will play at New York,
Indiana, Memphis, New Orleans and Oklahoma City during the next 12 days. Utah's
only two home games during the stretch: against the Lakers and Thunder. And the
Grizzlies-Hornets-OKC trifecta is a back-to-back-back bonanza from Feb. 12-14
away from Salt Lake City. If Utah falls below .500, it won't be easy climbing
back above.
Trends
Utah is 3-0 ATS on two day’s rest while LA is 3-5 on
the second game of back-to-back. The under is 8-2 in Utah’s last 10 games
against the Pacific Division and is 9-3 in the Lakers last 12 against Northwest
teams.
Harvey’s Take: The wrong team is favored here. I know all about
the Lakers road problems but they’re the deeper of the two teams. Utah is wafer
thin at the guard spot and that could mean big things for Kobe and Goudelock.
Take the Lakers plus the points in your Saturday NBA picks.