Utah (12-39) at LA Lakers (31-19)
- When: Feb 10 2025, 10:30 PM
- Where: Crypto.com Arena, Los Angeles, CA, USA
- TV: SportsNet LA
Game Preview
The Los Angeles Lakers are set to welcome their newest superstar, Luka Doncic, to the lineup on Monday night as they host the struggling Utah Jazz. The Lakers have been surging even without Doncic, while Utah continues to slide in the standings. With LA heavily favored, bettors will be looking for value in the spread, total, and player props.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Lakers (33-20) made waves at the trade deadline by acquiring Luka Doncic from Dallas in a blockbuster deal that sent Anthony Davis to the Mavericks. While Doncic has been sidelined with a calf injury since Christmas Day, all signs point to him making his Lakers debut in this matchup.
Doncic teaming up with LeBron James instantly gives LA one of the most dangerous duos in the league. The Lakers are already riding a five-game winning streak and have won 11 of their last 13 games. They most recently defeated the Indiana Pacers 124-117 on Saturday, despite missing James (ankle soreness).
Austin Reaves stepped up in a big way, dropping a career-high 45 points, while Rui Hachimura added 24 points and Jaxson Hayes grabbed 12 rebounds in James’ absence. Even with uncertainty around LeBron’s availability for Monday, the Lakers’ offense has been clicking, averaging 120.8 points per game during their winning streak.
The big question now is how Doncic will integrate into the Lakers’ system. His ball-dominant style will need to blend with James’ playmaking, but if they can figure out their rhythm, LA’s offense will be lethal down the stretch.
Utah Jazz
The Jazz (26-30) have been in free fall, going 2-11 since Jan. 15 while suffering eight consecutive road losses. Their latest defeat came on Saturday, a 130-110 blowout loss to the Clippers.
Utah started strong, leading by 12 points in the first quarter behind hot shooting from Jordan Clarkson (24 points, 4-of-6 from three) and Keyonte George (21 points), but fatigue caught up to them on the second night of a back-to-back following their overtime loss to Phoenix on Friday.
One of the few bright spots for the Jazz has been Johnny Juzang, who contributed 19 points off the bench, finishing three points shy of his season-high. However, Utah’s defense continues to be a major liability, ranking 30th in defensive rating while allowing 119.5 points per game.
Coach Will Hardy emphasized ball movement and team involvement despite the team’s struggles, saying, “We want to play in a style where everyone’s involved in the game because I think that’s what’s gonna drive the energy of the group every day.” However, without a reliable defensive anchor or consistent scoring, Utah continues to struggle.
Betting Prediction & Props
Spread Lean: Lakers -12.5 → LA is rolling, and with Doncic’s debut providing extra motivation, expect a comfortable win against a reeling Jazz squad.
Total Play: Over 234.5 → The Lakers’ offense is in rhythm, and Utah’s defense has been among the worst in the NBA.
Prop Bets to Watch:
Luka Doncic Over 25.5 Points → Expect him to make a statement in his Lakers debut.
Austin Reaves Over 18.5 Points → He’s in great form and could remain a key offensive piece even with Doncic active.
Jordan Clarkson Over 2.5 Three-Pointers → He’s been Utah’s most consistent scorer and should continue his high-volume shooting.
With the Lakers firing on all cylinders and the Jazz struggling, this game sets up for LA to dominate, especially with the buzz around Doncic’s first appearance in purple and gold.
- NBA Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
