Lakers vs. Jazz NBA Predictions and Pick for March 31 (Archive)
The Los Angeles Lakers might have some value, but the ‘over’ is the right NBA pick this Thursday when they visit the Utah Jazz. We tried to make this work for the Los Angeles Lakers.
In theory, they had some betting value heading into Tuesday’s matchup with the Dallas Mavericks, with both LeBron James and Anthony Davis out of commission. As we said then, how often do you get to put Lakers +12 in your NBA picks?
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Utah Jazz
Thursday, March 31, 2022 – 10:00 PM EDT at Vivint Arena
Well, as it turned out, our “heroes” got blown out in the first quarter. They didn’t give up, though, and made it interesting near the end before losing 128-110.
So now we have to decide whether it’s worth sticking with the game plan for Thursday’s tilt with the Utah Jazz, where the Lakers are 11.5-point road dogs on the NBA odds board as we go to press.
The Replacement Killers
As you may have already noticed, we’re bailing on the Purple and Gold and switching to the 'over'. James and Davis are still expected to miss this game with ankle injuries – although Davis should be back for Friday’s pivotal home game versus the New Orleans Pelicans.
One of the two teams the Lakers (31-44 SU, 31-43-1 ATS) needs to overtake to regain their spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament.
Taking these two studs out of the mix leaves L.A. with Russell Westbrook in charge, which is hardly ideal for the Lakers given that he’s been playing replacement-level ball this year.
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It also opens up frontcourt minutes for Dwight Howard, who’s been only slightly better – and lasted just five minutes in Tuesday’s game before getting pulled in favor of young Wenyen Gabriel. Ouch.
As it turns out, Gabriel is now listed as questionable for Thursday with an ankle issue of his own, so the Lakers might have to go with Plan C – whatever that might be – against Rudy Gobert and the Jazz (45-31 SU, 31-42-3 ATS).
Which gives us even more motivation to take the 'over'. It’s already 5-1 for the Lakers in their last six games, including that loss to Dallas (Over 220), and 10-7 since Davis last played.
Utah Aint’s
There’s a good chance we’ll get an extra helping of Gobert in this NBA matchup, too. Back-up center Hassan Whiteside is day-to-day with a sprained right foot that’s kept him out of the last three games of Utah’s ugly six-game road trip, where they went 1-5 SU and ATS.
The 'under' was 2-1 with Whiteside on the shelf, but he is one of Utah’s better defenders, so his absence should help our cause.
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We can’t say the same for Bojan Bogdanovic. He’s day-to-day with a strained calf; if their talented sniper is out, the Jazz will have a harder time eclipsing that 225-point total. But we’re willing to put a small bet on the 'over' given what’s happening with the Lakers. It’s just the right thing to do.
Final Score Prediction: Lakers 104, Jazz 122
NBA Pick: Over 225 (-110) with BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.