Utah Jazz vs. LA Lakers: TV Schedule, Live Stream, Spread Info and More

Kobe Bryant’s Los Angeles Lakers will host the Utah Jazz in a game in which every storyline is centered on Team Hollywood.  After choking to the Chicago Bulls and getting embarrassed by the Sacramento Kings, LA risks losing three games in just three days.  Another tally in the loss column will result in the panic button being pressed in Los Angeles.

Jazz fans have to be on the edge of their seats to see their two big-name rookies in Enes Kanter and Alec Burks along with the progression of Derrick Favors and Gordon Heyward.  The Jazz have plenty of young talent and have the potential to return to the playoffs in 2012.

Where: Staples Center, Los Angeles, CA

When: Tuesday, Dec. 27 at 10:30 EST

Watch: TNT

Listen: 710, ESPN LA

Betting Line: Lakers by 4.5, according to ESPN.com.

Key Injuries

While Kobe will continue to fight through a torn ligament in his wrist, the Jazz also have a couple of dinged up players.  Paul Millsap and Josh Howard are both day-to-day. 

According to Brian T. Smith of the Salt Lake City Tribune, Millsap will be moved from the starting lineup to a bench role because of a quad injury.  His status will be a game-time decision.

What’s At Stake?

While the Jazz will simply be looking to gel with new players like Howard and their rookies entering the rotation, Los Angeles risks imploding with another loss.  Sure, they don’t have Andrew Bynum, but starting off the season 0-3 while their in-house rivals in the Clippers are finally a legitimate threat would be a nightmare. 

What They’re Saying

New Lakers head coach Mike Brown talked to the media about his team playing back-to-back-to-back games right off the bat saying (via ESPN): “Everyone is going to have to play three straight games and we will have to find a way through this.  We have had a lot of practice, followed by a long day today, but everyone has to go through it as well.”

Jazz starting point guard Devin Harris talked about last year’s post-trade deadline struggles and his hunger for the team to rebound saying: “We finished on a high note, won some games.  But the downfall we had toward the end of last season was unacceptable.  We know that, and we're looking forward to getting back at it.”

Jazz Player to Watch

After being traded to Utah last season, Harris averaged 15.8 points and 5.4 assists a game.  Lakers starting point guard Derek Fisher tends to struggle defending quicker ball-handlers and Harris is one of the fastest players in the league.  He could have a field day against the aging veteran.

Lakers Player to Watch

Kobe filled up the stat-sheet in his first two games of the season and is averaging 28.5 points, six dimes and six boards a night.  What he isn’t doing is being efficient.  Against the Bulls he turned the ball over eight times and vs. Sac-Town, he shot under 42 percent from the field.

Bryant must play under control for Los Angeles to avoid dropping another one.

Key Matchup

Al Jefferson vs. Pau Gasol

This is an interesting matchup in that both Jefferson and Gasol are better suited to play power forward and each are offense-first big-men.  The centers will get their points, but whichever one can step up on the defensive end and the glass the most will give their team a huge lift.

Prediction

LA is tired.  They just played two days straight.  On top of that, the Lakers could face mental and emotional struggles because that pair of contests were losses.

Still, Kobe and company couldn’t lose three games in a row right…right?

Lakers 93-90

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer. Follow him on Twitter.