Utah Jazz Vs LA Lakers Prediction And Betting Tips

The Utah Jazz and LA Lakers will meet for the first time in the 2025-26 NBA season on Tuesday. This matchup could end up being the matchup with the superstar LeBron James in the fight to play his first match. The four-time MVP sat out with sciatica to start his 23rd season but is considered questionable to suit up.

However, it should be an entertaining matchup with other All-Star candidates like Luka Doncic, Lauri Markkanen and Austin Reaves in action. The game will be televised locally by KJZZ (Utah) and Spectrum SportsNet (LA) at Crypto.com Arena beginning at 10:30 PM ET (9:30 PM PT). Viewers outside the United States can watch the action live online via NBA League Pass.

Utah Jazz vs LA Lakers Odds, Prediction, Preview and Betting Tips

Money line: Jazz +452, Lakers -650

Spread: Jazz +12.5 (-105), Lakers -12.5 (-115)

Total over/under (o/u): Jazz o238.5 (-108), Lakers u238.5 (-110)

Editor's Notes: Odds are subject to change closer to tip and will be updated.

Utah Jazz vs. LA Lakers preview

Utah Jazz

The jazz enter this matchup with a record of 5-8. They have won two of their last three games so they have decent momentum. However, Utah has concerns on both ends of the court. In attack, he is 23rd with a rating of 113.5. Defensively, the Jazz are even worse, ranking 24th with a 118.1 rating.

They will need a special effort from their two best players, Lauri Markkanen and Keyonte George, for causing a disturbance. Markkanen is averaging 30.6 points and 6.2 rebounds on 47.9 percent shooting, including 38.9 percent from 3. He's coming off back-to-back 40-point games.

Meanwhile, George, a candidate for Most Improved Player of the Year, is averaging 22.2 ppg and 7.0 ppg. He has recorded just two games with fewer than six assists and has yet to score fewer than 10 points this season.

The Jazz have a five-man injury list. Kyle Filipowski (wrist), Taylor Hendricks (hamstring) and Kyle Anderson (back) are questionable. Georges Niang (foot) and Walker Kessler (shoulder) are out.

LA Lakers

The lakers they are 10-4 and coming off a 3-2 road trip. They won back-to-back nights against the Pelicans and Bucks in their last two outings. The Lakers haven't produced eye-popping team stats, producing a 115.4 offensive rating (17th) and a 113.7 defensive rating (15th), but they've done enough to pull themselves out of the way amid an early-season injury bug.

They could have their full 14-man roster available for the first time Tuesday as LeBron James (sciatica) and Gabe Vincent (ankle) are questionable. It would be a great relief to Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, who have made outstanding contributions to carry the lackluster Lakers this stretch.

Doncic is averaging 34/9/9 on 46.9% shooting, while Reaves has a career-best 5/28/8 on 48.2% shooting. LA won't be playing at a playoff level if James returns, but it's still likely to come away with a win.

At 3-2, the home record does not stand out, so the Lakers will be motivated to do better.

Utah Jazz vs. LA Lakers Predicted Starting 5s

Utah Jazz

PG – Keyonte George, SG – Isaiah Collier, SF – Ace Bailey, PF – Lauri Markkanen, c – Jusuf Nurkic

LA Lakers

PG – Luka Doncic, SG – Austin Reaves, SF -Rui Hachimura, PF – LeBron James, c – Deandre Ayton

Editor's Notes: Starting lineups are subject to change closer to notice due to injury updates.

Utah Jazz vs LA Lakers Betting Tips

Luka Doncic is favored to score at least 31 points. He's coming off a 41-point game.

Meanwhile, Lauri Markkanen is favored to score 25+ points despite coming off back-to-back 40-point nights.

LeBron James' points total is 16.5. Oddsmakers suggest taking the underdog on the returning superstar's score.