Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Lakers 2019: Prediction Against The Spread, Odds For LAL Home Opener

The Los Angeles Lakers are searching for their first win of the 2019-2020 NBA season. After coming up short on Opening Night against the L.A. Clippers, the team will host a contender in their home opener.

The Utah Jazz head to Staples Center for a matchup with the Lakers Friday night. The latest betting line at OddsShark suggests LeBron James and Anthony Davis will get their first regular-season victory as teammates.

The Lakers are 3.5-point favorites.

Unlike the Lakers, the Jazz started their season off on the right foot. Utah defeated the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder Wednesday night. Donovan Mitchell led the way with 32 points and 12 rebounds, picking up the slack for Mike Conley in his Jazz debut. The point guard missed 15 of his 16 field-goal attempts.

It’s hard to read much into one game for either the Jazz for Lakers. Utah is primed to be one of the Western Conference’s best teams. Los Angeles has championship expectations now that they’ve got two top-10—arguably top-five—players in the starting lineup.

The Jazz have ranked in the top three in defensive efficiency in each of the last three years. Utah has picked up where they left off, surrendering only 95 points in Game No.1. Conley will obviously play much better after a poor shooting night.

James is due for a bounce-back game, as well. The superstar was bad in the final three quarters of the Lakers’ first game. He finished with 18 points on 7-19 shooting to go along with 10 rebounds and eight assists. James had five turnovers, including a costly one in the fourth quarter as the Clippers pulled away.

Davis will have to deal with the two-time reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year in Rudy Gobert. The Lakers’ big man had a career-high 17 post-ups against the Clippers, and it was a productive play for the purple and gold. It’ll be hard for him to have that same kind of success with Gobert defending the paint.

The Lakers’ depth is still an issue. Dwight Howard looked unplayable Tuesday night. Kyle Kuzma could miss a few more weeks with a foot injury. Rajon Rondo is questionable after missing the opener.

Kawhi Leonard was terrific, but it was the battle of the benches that ultimately did the Lakers in. Lou Williams and Montrezl Harrell led the way as the Clippers’ reserves outscored the Lakers’ bench 60-19.

Utah’s bench isn’t as dangerous. Joe Ingles, Emmanuel Mudiay, Jeff Green and Ed Davis are unlikely to decide Friday’s contest.

Friday’s game won’t be as exciting as Tuesday’s potential playoff preview between the two Los Angeles teams. There probably won’t be a ton of points scored. Betting the total to go under 222.5 might be a good wager.

James is unlikely to have a second-straight poor performance. Davis should play well in his first home opener as a Laker. The Lakers outscored the Clippers in Davis’ 37 minutes on the floor.

If the Lakers can get any kind of production from a non-superstar other than Danny Green, they should enter the win column for the first time this season.

Prediction: Los Angeles over Utah, 106-100