PREMIUM
Rogers' *10* NBA Coach's Clinic >> 3-1 Start in NBA! 8-3 L11 Sides!
(NBA) LA Lakers vs. Utah,
10/28/2016 5:00 PM, Score: 89 - 96
Point Spread: 8.50 | 100.00 LA Lakers (Away)
Result: Win
Point Spread: 8.50 | 100.00 LA Lakers (Away)
Result: Win
The set-up: Utah opened the season with starting forwards Gordon Hayward and Derrick Favors sidelined with injuries. Both players were missed, although new addition Joe Johnson (starting in place of Hayward) finished with a team-high 29 points on 12-of-16 shooting. However, the Jazz went ice cold over the final 3 1/2 minutes of a 113-104 loss at Portland on Tuesday to the Blazers. The Lakers won Luke Walton's head coaching debut Wednesday night, 120-114 over the Rockets. LA clamped down defensively in the fourth quarter of the opener, outscoring the Rockets 30-18 to record the comeback victory. Shooting guard Jordan Clarkson scored 25 points off the bench while PG D'Angelo Russell scored 20 points and power forward Julius Randle an excellent all-around game with 18 points (on 9-of-11 shooting), seven rebounds and six assists.
LA Lakers: Winning in coach Luke Walton's debut was no small deal for a team that tasted victory so infrequently a year ago, going 17-65.The Lakers rallied in the fourth quarter to beat a quality opponent which is a much-welcomed change of pace from the the 2015-16 season. "It wasn't pretty, but we got the job done," said LA's top scorer Clarkson after the game. "It was the first one. I feel like as the season progresses we'll do a better job of coming together and making the most of each possession."
Utah: The Jazz finished ninth in the West last season and some shrewd moves during the summer brought improved depth to the Utah Jazz, positioning the team to possibly be a rising star in the NBA's Western Conference. PG George Hill, swingman Joe Johnson and all-purpose forward Boris Diaw were added to a young nucleus that includes front-liners Gordon Hayward (19.7-5.0-3.7), Derrick Favors (16.4-8.1) and Rudy Gobert (9.1-11.0). However, Hayward is out through at least mid-November after fracturing his left finger in the preseason and Favors missed the opener against Portland on Tuesday because of lingering knee and IT band issues. He practiced with the team on Thursday but remains questionable.
The pick: Utah won the season series 3-1 a year ago, with the Lakers' lone victory coming on April 13 in Kobe's final game of his NBA career when he scored 60 points to lead his team to a 101-96 victory. Utah hasn't lost at home to the Lakers since falling 100-97 on February 25, 2015 but take note, Walton's young team played with a degree of energy and enthusiasm not seen from the Lakers in quite awhile. Take the points and make the Lakers a 10* play.
LA Lakers: Winning in coach Luke Walton's debut was no small deal for a team that tasted victory so infrequently a year ago, going 17-65.The Lakers rallied in the fourth quarter to beat a quality opponent which is a much-welcomed change of pace from the the 2015-16 season. "It wasn't pretty, but we got the job done," said LA's top scorer Clarkson after the game. "It was the first one. I feel like as the season progresses we'll do a better job of coming together and making the most of each possession."
Utah: The Jazz finished ninth in the West last season and some shrewd moves during the summer brought improved depth to the Utah Jazz, positioning the team to possibly be a rising star in the NBA's Western Conference. PG George Hill, swingman Joe Johnson and all-purpose forward Boris Diaw were added to a young nucleus that includes front-liners Gordon Hayward (19.7-5.0-3.7), Derrick Favors (16.4-8.1) and Rudy Gobert (9.1-11.0). However, Hayward is out through at least mid-November after fracturing his left finger in the preseason and Favors missed the opener against Portland on Tuesday because of lingering knee and IT band issues. He practiced with the team on Thursday but remains questionable.
The pick: Utah won the season series 3-1 a year ago, with the Lakers' lone victory coming on April 13 in Kobe's final game of his NBA career when he scored 60 points to lead his team to a 101-96 victory. Utah hasn't lost at home to the Lakers since falling 100-97 on February 25, 2015 but take note, Walton's young team played with a degree of energy and enthusiasm not seen from the Lakers in quite awhile. Take the points and make the Lakers a 10* play.
