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LOS ANGELES -- The Utah Jazz (12-8), winners of five of their last six games, go on the road to take on arguably the best team in the NBA Wednesday night.
The Los Angeles Lakers (16-3) have the best record in the NBA and are riding a nine-game winning streak.
After squeaking past the Miami Heat (108-107), the Lakers beat up on the Phoenix Suns (108-88). They have won the first four games of a six-game homestand.
The Jazz rebounded from a horrible loss to the three-win Minnesota Timberwolves to beat the San Antonio Spurs for the third time this season.
The Jazz fought back from a large first half deficit and needed a clutch jumper from PG Deron Williams to beat the pesky Spurs 104-101.
KSL takes a look back and ahead as we prep for the game against the Lakers.
What did we learn about the Jazz against the San Antonio Spurs?
- The Jazz seem to play to the level of their competition. Beating good teams like the Spurs, but losing to bottom-feeders like the Wolves.
- PF Carlos Boozer is playing some of his best basketball averaging 26.8 ppg, 11.3 rbg and 4.7 apg in his last six games.
- Deron Williams has solidified himself as the Jazz' Mr. Clutch.
What can the Jazz expect from the Lakers?
- The Lakers are one of the top scoring teams in the NBA and one of the top defensive teams. They average almost 105 points a game and give up just over 96 points a game- leading to the second best differential in the NBA (+8.3).
- In his 13th season in the league, Kobe Bryant is still one of the best players in the NBA averaging almost 29 points a game.
- With two seven-footers in the starting lineup it is no wonder why the Lakers are best rebounding team in the league (45.2 rpg).
Probable Jazz starting lineup
- C - Mehmet Okur, 6-11, 273 lbs., Turkey
- PF - Carlos Boozer, 6-9, 260 lbs., Duke
- SF - Ronnie Brewer, 6-7, 236 lbs., Arkansas
- SG - Wesley Matthews, 6-5, 224 lbs., Marquette
- PG - Deron Williams, 6-3, 207 lbs., Illinois
Probable Lakers starting lineup
- C - Andrew Bynum, 7-0, 285 lbs., St. Joseph HS (NJ)
- PF - Pau Gasol, 7-0, 250 lbs., Barcelona, Spain
- SF - Ron Artest, 6-9, 240 lbs., St. John's
- SG - Kobe Bryant, 6-6. 205 lbs., Lower Merion HS (PA)
- PG - Derek Fisher, 6-1, 210 lbs., Arkansas-Little Rock
Lakers leaders
Kobe Bryant 28.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 3.9 apg/ Andrew Bynum 18.2 ppg, 9.8 rpg, 1.65 bpg/ Pau Gasol 17.8 ppg, 9.4 rgp, 1.38 bpg
Jazz Injury Updates
- Andrei Kirilenko - (back) OUT
- Kyle Korver - (left knee surgery) OUT
- Ronnie Price - (toe) OUT
- Kyrylo Fesenko - (Stomach virus) OUT
- Matt Harpring - (ankle, knee) OUT
Lakers Injury Updates
- Luke Walton - (pinched nerve, back) OUT
Conclusion
This will be a good test for the Utah Jazz; the defending champion Lakers are clearly the cream of the crop in the NBA. The Jazz will have to play a near flawless game and have significant contributions from every position on the floor to have any chance of winning.
