Los Angeles @ Utah preview
Delta Center
Last Meeting ( Feb 10, 2025 ) Utah 113, L.A. Lakers 132
After Luka Doncic's successful, albeit limited, debut for the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday, the Lakers aim to extend their win streak to seven games when they face the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City on Wednesday night.
Los Angeles coach JJ Redick said he plans on playing Doncic alongside LeBron James against the Jazz in the team's final game before the weeklong All-Star break.
The Jazz, meanwhile, are opening a back-to-back set featuring both Los Angeles teams -- the Clippers come to town on Thursday night. Utah has lost three straight games and 15 of their last 18.
The Lakers are going for a four-game sweep of the season series after cruising to a 132-113 victory over the Jazz on Monday night.
The 25-year-old Doncic played for the first time after being traded from Dallas earlier this month in a blockbuster deal that involved fellow All-NBA player Anthony Davis going to the Mavericks.
In his first game since sustaining a calf injury on Christmas Day, Doncic amassed 14 points, five rebounds and four assists in 24 minutes.
"I was a little bit nervous before," Doncic said. "I don't remember the last time I was nervous before the game. But once I stepped on the court, it was fun. And just being out there again felt amazing."
Doncic said he was inspired by a pregame message from his new superstar teammate. As overheard on the ESPN broadcast, James colorfully told Doncic, "Be yourself".
"For him to say something like that just feels amazing. It gives me confidence," Doncic said. "And after that speech, it was chills. I was just happy to be a part of it."
This will give James and Doncic another chance to build chemistry after some have questioned whether two players who are accustomed to being the No. 1 option can be successful together in the long term.
"They're two of the best thinkers, problem solvers that we've ever seen," Jazz coach Will Hardy said. "I don't see any world where those two playing together isn't a good thing. Like I said, their processing speed, mentally, is incredible. And so, I'm sure they'll figure it out."
On Monday, James made 10 of 17 shots for 24 points with eight assists and seven rebounds. He played 29 minutes. Austin Reaves had 22 points and nine boards.
By late in the first quarter, the Jazz succumbed to the pressure of the night and the Lakers' offensive weapons.
Despite having most of their roster back, Utah trailed by 12 points after the first quarter, gave up 72 total points in the first half, and trailed by as many as 34 points in the game.
Seven Jazz players scored in double figures, with John Collins (17 points, 11 rebounds) and Walker Kessler (13 points, 12 rebounds) each earning double-doubles. Lauri Markkanen also scored 17 points.
Defensively, though, the Jazz struggled all night, allowing the Lakers to shoot 54.3 percent from the field.
"We've got to learn how to not be rattled by opponents' big-time shots or stuff like that. That's a continual training process and continual learning process," Kessler said. "Regardless of what people will say about us, I think we're very resilient, and I think that we'll come out. We'll lose some tough ones, but in the long run, that's going to do us well."
On Tuesday, the Lakers made another attempt to add frontcourt depth with the signing of free agent 12-year veteran center Alex Len. The move came after a trade to acquire center Mark Williams from Charlotte fell apart, reportedly over the results of Williams' physical with the Lakers' medical personnel.
Len, 31, played this season for the Sacramento Kings, averaging 1.4 points and 1.8 rebounds across 7.2 minutes in 36 games (three starts).
--Field Level Media