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NBA Playoff Odds: LA Lakers vs. Utah Jazz Game 3

Written by Jimmy Boyd

lakers jazz game 3 The No. 1 seed Los Angeles Lakers face off with the No. 8 seed Utah Jazz Thursday, April 23rd in Game 3 of the Western Conference Playoffs. The game can be seen on TNT at 10:30 pm EST. The Jazz currently find themselves in a 0-2 hole as their road struggles have carried over to the playoffs, but NBA odds makers are expecting a much closer Game 3, listing the Utah Jazz as just a 2-point underdog with the total set at 214.5.

While the Jazz find themselves in a 0-2 hole, they have to be happy about the way they have battled back in each of the first two games. In both Games 1 and 2, the Jazz have faced big first half deficits, but they didn’t throw in the towel. Instead, they outscored the Lakers in the second half in each game. While the effort was better in Game 2, the result was the same and close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. The Jazz will not be lacking confidence in Game 3 though as they head back home where they are 33-8 on the season. In fact, the Jazz faced a 0-2 deficit in last year’s playoffs against the Lakers and were able to win back-to-back home games in Games 3 and 4. It has certainly not helped that the Jazz have been without Mehmet Okur. He is currently listed as questionable Thursday, but his presence would give this team a big lift. Not only have the Jazz lost the first two games of this series to the Lakers, but they also lost their last game of the regular season to LA. If those back-to-back-to-back setbacks to LA doesn’t light a fire under this team then nothing will. If you think the Utah will continue its strong play at home, bet the Jazz at +2 in Game 3 at Bookmaker and receive a 20% cash signup bonus.

There are two differences between this year’s Lakers team and the one that lost in the NBA Finals a season ago. One of those differences is the experience the young guys gained and the other is Andrew Bynum. With both Bynum and Pau Gasol on the LA front line, the Lakers have been tough to guard. Utah beat the Lakers in its only home game against them this season and has won 3 of its last 4 home games against them, but the Lakers seem to have their eye on the prize. Another thing to consider is that, perhaps, the Jazz aren’t as hungry as they’ve been the past couple seasons and haven’t been able to mesh like they have in the past because of all the injury problems. Including its 2 playoff losses, the Jazz have now lost 9 of their last 11 games. But it is worth noting that 7 of those defeats have come on the road. Salt Lake City has been one of the toughest places to play over the past couple seasons, and the Lakers found that out in last year’s playoffs. They know that if they want to make quick work of the Jazz they are going to have to really tighten things up on the defensive end and that has been a struggle on the road where they are allowing 100.7 points per game and 46.5 percent shooting. If you like Los Angeles to keep right on rolling, bet the Lakers at -2 in Game 3.

Make sure you consult Jimmy Boyd’s NBA expert picks before doing any NBA betting on this game.

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