On Saturday night, the Lonzo Ball rookie tour continues as he and the Los Angeles Lakers meet the Utah Jazz. So far, both the Jazz and Lakers hold 2-3 records for the season with both teams coming into this matchup off recent losses. Of the two teams, Utah is considered to have more of a chance at contending for a low playoff spot, but Ball's upside has fans wondering about possibilities. Here's the Lakers vs. Jazz game preview with matchup odds, start time, TV channel, and live streaming options.
NBA game preview
In the early part of his pro career, Los Angeles Lakers rookie Lonzo Ball has been averaging numbers similar to former NBA star Jason Kidd.
Ball currently scores 10.2 points, gets 8.6 rebounds, and dishes out 8.4 assists per game which has him tied for fifth in the league. He's led his team to two wins in their first five games, but they're coming off a recent 101-92 loss at home against the Toronto Raptors. So far they're 1-0 on the road, but that came against a Phoenix Suns team that is also dealing with low expectations for the season ahead.
Tonight's opponent is a Utah Jazz team that no longer has All-Star Gordon Hayward, but are being led by their remaining star Rudy Gobert. He averages a double-double with 14.4 points and 11.4 rebounds a game. Point guard Ricky Rubio has been a nice addition as he brings 8.2 assists per game, while also leading in steals with two a game.
Rodney Hood is the team's leading scorer with 16 per game, while Gobert and Rubio are second and third, respectively. Despite what seems like balanced scoring, Utah is actually averaging fewer Points Per Game than they allow their opponents. They'll need to address those offensive woes going forward if they want a chance to compete in the Western Conference.
Odds for tonight's game have the home team as a large favorite to win. On the moneyline, the Utah Jazz are at -700 while the point spread has them favored by 10.5 points per game. The Lakers are +500 underdogs while the over/under points total is 202.5 points for the complete game.
How to watch it live
Game time for the Los Angeles Lakers vs.
Utah Jazz is scheduled for 9 p.m. Eastern Time on Saturday night. This game will be televised on certain channels based on viewing region or subscriber status. In Los Angeles, Spectrum SportsNet HD is the channel to watch. For the Utah area viewing regions, it's AT&T SportsNet Rocky Mountain. For out-of-market viewing regions, viewers will need an NBA League Pass subscription.
NBA League Pass is also one of the top live streaming options for fans to watch a variety of games from around the league each and every night of the NBA schedule. This game can also be purchased on its own for just $6.99 for anyone who doesn't want to buy the full League Pass. Otherwise, a season-long subscription for all teams or select teams is the way to go.