Pro Basketball Picks: Utah Jazz vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Lakers (17-25) continue to fall in the Western Conference standings, which can't be ignored when making your NBA against-the-spread picks on Friday night, as they prepare to host the Utah Jazz (23-19) at the Staples Center.

Sports bettors will find that the Lakers are five-point favorites in the pro basketball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total sits at 206 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at this contest from a betting perspective, while offering up a prediction along the way.

Utah Jazz

USA TODAY Sports

The Utah Jazz have won eight of their last 10 games, including a 92-88 victory over the Washington Wizards as seven-point home favorites last time out.

Sports bettors will find that the Jazz are 9-14-1 against the spread when playing away from EnergySolutions Arena during the 2012-13 NBA season. 

Los Angeles Lakers

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The Los Angeles Lakers have dropped 10 of their 12 games since the calendar turned to 2013, while posting a money-burning 3-9 against-the-spread record during that time.

Sports bettors will find that the Lakers have failed to cover the number in their last four games against the Jazz, while the UNDER is 6-2 in the last eight meetings overall in this series. 

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers back the Utah Jazz as one of their pro basketball picks on Friday night, as I established the Los Angeles Lakers as 4.5-point home favorites. 

NBA Pick: Utah Jazz +5

 

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