Game 57: 04/17/21 Jazz at Lakers GAME THREAD

[KobeMVP888]

(42-14) JAZZ AT LAKERS (34-22

Saturday, April 17, 2021, 1:30 PM PDT
Staples Center • Los Angeles, CA

Referees: Scott Foster (#48), Karl Lane (#77), Matt Boland (#18)

Replay Center: James Williams, John Butler

Line: Jazz -1
O/U: 213

National TV: ESPN
Local TV: Spectrum SportsNet



GAME PREVIEW: JAZZ AT LAKERS:

by Harrrison Faigen, @hmfaigen, silverscreenandroll.com

After finishing up a stretch against a couple of easier opponents, getting a win over the banged-up Charlotte Hornets before dropping a winnable game against the barely over .500 Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers (34-22) appear to have a tougher few games in front of them as they look to hang on to the fifth-seed in the Western Conference.

In their next four contests, the Lakers will play two games in a row against the Utah Jazz, then follow it up with a pair of games against the Dallas Mavericks, a pair of teams in the thick of the West playoff race this season. The Jazz have the best record in the conference, while the Mavericks are in the seventh-spot, just three games back of the Lakers, making those two matchups potentially very relevant in the hunt for final seeding, and this stretch a potentially dangerous one.

But before the Lakers head to Dallas, they’ll be hosting the Jazz twice at Staples Center, with the first matchup coming on Saturday. As of publishing time, the Lakers are just two games up on Portland Trail Blazers in the standings, so two battles with the top team in the West this season aren’t necessarily coming at a great time if the Lakers are looking to avoid slipping down in the seeding race.

The Jazz will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back in a game that will take place early Saturday afternoon, so the Lakers — who had Friday off — will actually have the rest advantage in this one. But that might be the only advantage they have, because while the Jazz could be missing star Donovan Mitchell, who sprained his ankle in their Friday win over the Indiana Pacers and is getting an MRI tonight, it’s fair to say that the Lakers are dealing with even more injuries. (Note: after this was posted, it was announced that in addition to Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley and Derrick Favors will also sit this one out for Utah, making this game ripe for the taking!)

For starters, while Anthony Davis has been cleared for a full return to basketball activity, he’s not returning against the Jazz. Starting point guard Dennis Schröder is also dealing with an infection in the ball of his foot that left him nearly unable to play on Thursday, while starting center Andre Drummond had the big toe that he lost a toenail from re-aggravated and missed the loss to the Celtics, and replacement starter Marc Gasol dislocated and fractured his pinkie in that game. Plus, Davis’ replacement in the starting lineup, Markieff Morris, has missed the last two games with a left ankle sprain.

That’s in addition to injuries to Kyle Kuzma (left calf strain) and Wesley Matthews (right Achilles tendon tightness) that haven’t kept them out of games but are still hampering them enough to be on the injury report, and with Jared Dudley and LeBron James both set to miss plenty more time.

Basically, to say the Lakers are banged up right now is an understatement.

Still, with the Lakers having the rest advantage and the Jazz potentially overlooking the zombified remains of this roster, maybe they’ll have a chance. This team fights hard nearly every night, the loss to the Celtics notwithstanding. But this also could be the start of a small skid as the team continues to wait for its stars to return.

Notes and Updates

- We know who is out for the Lakers, or do we?

- Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Mike Conley and Derrick Favors are all out for the Jazz.

https://www.silverscreenandroll.com/202 ... n-mitchell

[lakerevolution]

So many missing players . . but both teams want to put a W in the left column. Our title defense hasn't exactly been peaches and cream so far, but we remember all the hard times and of course we have faith in things unseen.

Go Lakers. AD and LeBron will be back in the rotation soon.

[lakerevolution]

These Lakers are BALLERS.

[3Peatkb24]

Great/fun game. Lakers are a scrappy bunch, both teams have major injuries but any win is a nice win. Jazz are still a good team even without Mitchell. I want to see these two teams play in a series at full strength. With the win, the Lakers now improve to 35-22, the Jazz are still at a league's best at 42-15.

[lakerevolution]

It's bittersweet to see Randle, Ingram and Clarkson all getting their respect in the NBA. What could have been . . or maybe could be if we ever deal for them back in the future. Even D'Angelo Russell

Per ESPN:

"He's always in the moment," Morris said of Schröder. "Tonight we needed him to score more. He made some great plays at the end of the game. We're getting to the point where everybody knows each other's game. We need that camaraderie."

Clarkson hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 8.7 seconds left in regulation. He had 10 points in the fourth, when the Jazz opened with an 18-4 run to get within two. Schröder scored the Lakers' final six points of regulation.

"We made more in-game adjustments than we have all year just to counter their attack," Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. "To have a team storm back and take the lead and (us) not panic is definitely something we can draw on going forward. We'll have this experience to know that we'll prevail."

Neither team led by more than five points in the first half when there were 10 ties - KCP passed Eddie Jones for fifth on the franchise's career 3-point list with his 490th and Kuzma overtook Rick Fox for seventh on the 3-point list.

The victory triggered purple-and-gold streamers falling from the ceiling and "I Love LA" blaring on the sound system. The pared-down and socially distanced Laker Girls have been relegated to an upper level, with their live dancing intermixed with old video performances.

Still, Drummond is enjoying taking it all in as a Laker.

"It's kind of a surreal moment for me," he said. "It's definitely a great feeling and something I want more of."

[3Peatkb24]

Depending on the seeding's, if we get 100% healthy and the Jazz are 100% healthy I can't see anyway these 2 teams aren't in the WCFinals. It is possible though that we play the Jazz in Round 2 (Semis) because of seeding's. This is the best Jazz team they have had since their 1997 and 1998 teams. They are scary good. They never lose at home either, doesn't even matter if there is 1 person in the stands, ridiculous. They have been historically a dominant home team going back to the 90's. That is the only team that scares me in the West if we are at 100%. Clippers I would rank 3rd but I see them as a Round 2 (Semi's) exit as usual. Leonard is a Champ and a Superstar, Paul George plays like a Superstar during the regular season but in the playoffs it is this . The Suns are very good but not on our level or the Jazz level, just my 2 cents. In the East, if the Nets come out they could be a problem because of Durant mainly, Harden and Irving with Durant would be a tough out.

[KobeMVP888]

While the game has changed to the point that a three point shot is now a layup, defenses in the playoffs always alter the percentages of those shots. You don't see scrubs like Ilyasova going off for five threes in the first quarter. Anyway, our role players beat their role players yesterday in an entertaining scrimmage and even though it went to OT, theonly reason it did was because we went ice cold for a very long stretch in the fourth quarter. While it can't be denied that their defense had a hand in that, the "make or miss" aspect was just as obvious (e.g., Keef missing at least three wide open shots that he normally hits). Monday's game you can pencil into the L column. We need AD and Bron back for chemistry purposes if for no other reason.