LA Lakers (9-4) vs Utah Jazz (3-10)
November 19, 2024 at 10:30 PM EST
The Line: Betting Odds: LA Lakers -526 / Utah Jazz +400 — Over/Under: 229.5
The Utah Jazz will face the Los Angeles Lakers on November 19, 2024, in a matchup that could be pivotal to both teams when it comes to the In-Season Tournament. It’s been a rough start for the Utah Jazz this season. John Collins has emerged as a leading scorer with an average of 17.5 PPG. Key players like Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George also contribute significantly. The Jazz are playing a high-tempo style, with a strong focus on ball movement and unselfish play. However, they will be without center Walker Kessler, who is out with a hip injury.
The Lakers have found some rhythm with Anthony Davis playing at an MVP level, putting up 31.1 PPG and 11.2 RPG. Davis’ defense has been exceptional. They’re on a 5 game winning streak and getting contributions from a lot of guys on this team.
Anthony Davis Over 28.5 Points
Anthony Davis is having an exceptional start to the 2024-25 NBA season. He is averaging 31.1 points per game, which is a career-high scoring rate, and contributing 11.2 rebounds per game. Davis has been efficient with his shooting, hitting 56.1% from the field and a respectable 42.9% from three-point range, which highlights his expanded range this season. His free-throw shooting is also strong at 79.8%, showing improvement from the past.
Davis’ scoring has been particularly impressive with multiple 30+ point games. For example, in a recent game against the New Orleans Pelicans, he scored 31 points with 14 rebounds and 5 assists, showcasing his scoring ability and all-around contributions. He should have another big game against this Jazz team that’s weak in the paint with Walker Kessler being out.
Lebron James Over 9.5 Assists
LeBron James has been displaying impressive assist numbers during this NBA season so far. As of mid-November 2024, he is averaging 9.2 assists per game, continuing his role as a primary playmaker for the Los Angeles Lakers. His season-high for assists in a single game is 16, a mark he has hit twice. Over his recent games, he has also demonstrated versatility, contributing not just in playmaking but in scoring and rebounding as well.
He should have a massive game on the stat sheet against the Jazz. This Jazz has struggled on defense this season, especially against the better teams in the league. They’re allowing 27.6 assists per game to opposing teams which is the 5th most in the league. I expect Lebron to be more of a facilitator in this game.
John Collins Over 17.5 Points
John Collins has been performing consistently in the 2024-25 season, averaging 17.5 points per game across 13 games. His shooting efficiency has been strong, with a field goal percentage of 52.4%, and he’s contributing 7.8 rebounds per game. Additionally, he’s hitting 36.1% from beyond the arc, adding a reliable scoring touch from distance.
John Collins has been a pleasant surprise this season for the Jazz. You would think Lauri Markkanen would be Utah’s leading scorer but John Collins has been their guy. We’ve seen multiple games where Collins has scored 25+ points this season so he’s fully capable of getting to 18. In a game I expect the Jazz to be down John Collins will need to step up to keep this game close.