The Los Angeles Lakers (31-19) will host the Utah Jazz (12-38) on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena, aiming to build on their recent success as they climb the Western Conference standings.
Lakers surge behind Reaves’ standout play
The Lakers enter the matchup in top form, winning nine of their last ten games. Austin Reaves put on a career-best performance in their previous outing, scoring 45 points in a victory over the Indiana Pacers. LeBron James, who remains questionable with an ankle issue, has also been a key contributor, averaging 24.4 points over his last ten games.
Los Angeles has found its groove on offense, shooting 52.2% from the field during their hot streak. The Lakers will look to capitalize on Utah’s defensive struggles, as the Jazz have allowed opponents to average 122.9 points per game in their last ten matchups.
Jazz face uphill battle in conference play
Utah has struggled mightily against Western Conference opponents, posting a dismal 4-29 record. Despite a respectable offensive output of 113.5 points per game over their last ten, the Jazz have struggled with ball control, averaging 16.6 turnovers per game.
Keyonte George has emerged as a bright spot for Utah, averaging 16.5 points and 5.8 assists, while John Collins has chipped in 11.8 points per game over the past ten contests. However, the absence of Lauri Markkanen, who is day-to-day with a back injury, could make scoring even tougher against a Lakers squad that has limited opponents to 105.1 points per game in their recent stretch.
Key injuries could impact both teams
Both teams are dealing with injury concerns. The Lakers are monitoring LeBron James (ankle) and Cam Reddish (personal), while Christian Wood (knee) and trade acquisition Luka Don?i? (calf) remain out.
For Utah, Markkanen, Cody Williams (ankle), and Walker Kessler (shoulder) are all listed as day-to-day, while Taylor Hendricks (fibula) has been ruled out for the season. Collin Sexton (ankle) will also be sidelined.
Matchup outlook
The Lakers have been dominant at home and will look to take advantage of Utah’s defensive weaknesses. With Reaves playing at an elite level and the Jazz struggling in conference play, Los Angeles is the heavy favorite in this contest. However, Utah will attempt to stay competitive by limiting turnovers and capitalizing on second-chance opportunities.
Tip-off is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. EST.
