The fifth week of the 2023-24 season of the NBA continues on Tuesday, November 21, with the Utah Jazz taking on the Los Angeles Lakers in the Regular Season Tournament game at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
Utah and Los Angeles begin their regular three-game series, with the Lakers seeking their third straight win over the Jazz. Los Angeles remains the favorite team to take Game 1.
Jazz Look to Break Losing Streak
Utah, with a 4-9 record, has lost two straight games to the Phoenix Suns. After a 131-128 loss last Friday, the Jazz suffered a heartbreaking 140-137 defeat in double overtime Sunday night.
Through those two games, the Jazz have hit 37.8% of their three-pointers while dishing out 27.0 assists per night. However, their defense has been horrendous, allowing the Suns to shoot 50.5% from the field and 46.2% from beyond the arc.
The Jazz have the second-worst defensive rating in the NBA at 120.7 points per 100 possessions.
Their defense ranks 27th in the league in two-point shooting percentage at 57.5% and 21st in three-point shooting percentage at 36.8%.
Utah's 115.6 points per 100 possessions, 11th on 52.3% shooting from inside the arc and 37.0% from the perimeter.
Lauri Markkanen leads Utah with 24.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. Markkanen is making 3.5 three-pointers per night at a 40.0 percent clip. Jordan Clarkson adds 19.5 points and 4.8 assists per game, and John Collins adds 14.9 points and 8.9 rebounds per night.
The Jazz have covered the spread in each of their last four meetings with the Lakers, and Utah is expected to top the number once again.
Utah is having a tough time defending. The Jazz have been solid offensively so far and should find a way to score against the Lakers.
Utah leads the NBA in offensive rebounding percentage at 33.3% and ranks ninth in three-point rate at 41.3%.
The Los Angeles Lakers are once again wearing the 'City Edition' for tonight's game while the Utah Jazz will wear the 'Association Edition. pic.twitter.com/im4inMtha5
- Lakers World (@MundoLakersNBA) November 21, 2023
The Lakers After Their Third Straight Win
The Lakers, with an 8-6 record, are slowly building their form. They have won five of their last six games overall, including the previous two over the Portland Trail Blazers 107-95 and Houston Rockets 105-104.
Last Sunday, the Lakers ended the Rockets' streak of six consecutive wins. Los Angeles was 6-of-29 from beyond the arc and committed 18 turnovers, but found a way to beat Houston in a dramatic finish.
LeBron James scored 37 points against the Rockets, and Anthony Davis recorded a double-double with 27 points and 10 rebounds.
The Lakers are scoring 110.2 points per 100 possessions. They are making 56.4% of their two-point shots and 33.8% of their three-pointers.
On the other end of the floor, the Lakers allow 111.8 points per 100 possessions on 52.6% shooting from inside the arc and 36.6% from beyond the three-point line.
LeBron James leads the Lakers in points with 26.4 per game and assists with 6.5. Anthony Davis averages a double-double of 22.0 points and 11.7 rebounds on the season, while D'Angelo Russell adds 17.4 points and 6.2 assists per night.
The Lakers have played well of late, but still look like they need time to adjust things on the offensive side of the game.
