FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Jazz - Game 10

FSM Essential Recap: Lakers vs Jazz – Game 10

Franchise Sports Media

Los Angeles Lakers (2-8) | Utah Jazz (9-3)

 

The Lakers, without LeBron James, could not hold the Utah Jazz as they lost 139-116 and have now lost three in a row

 

At the end of Utah vs Clippers, the Jazz announcement crew commented on the Utah vs. Lakers game and said, “That Lakers team, they have LeBron and Anthony Davis, but after that, they really don’t have much,” and after this game, they weren’t exactly wrong.

LeBron James missed the game at Utah due to left foot soreness, and Lonnie Walker IV and Patrick Beverley were both out due to a non-COVID illness. Beverley would miss his second straight game. Anthony Davis once again played through his low back tightness and is currently beating his “soft” allegations so far this season. Dennis Schröder and Thomas Bryant also remained out for this game.

Darvin Ham told reporters that James’ foot has been sore, as we’ve seen it listed on the injury report, but there isn’t anything structurally wrong. However, this being the second night of a back-to-back may have impacted the decision to sit him.

Westbrook continued to come off the bench, as Darvin Ham likes how he’s taken to that role. Ham was looking forward to seeing what players like Austin Reaves and Wenyen Gabriel can do with some increased usage, as well as Kendrick Nunn and even Max Christie.

Without three of his usual starters, Ham ultimately ended up pushing out a starting group of Nunn, Reaves, Troy Brown Jr., Gabriel, and Davis.

Utah shot the lights out against the Lakers the last time they met, and they didn’t slow down, starting this game 4 of 6 from three, towards 12 of their 18 points.

But the Lakers were also efficient, hitting 7 of 9 field goals, with just one triple and five field goals in the paint. At the same time, Davis is 3 of 4. As a result, the Lake Show was down by just 1 point.

Davis was scoring very easily on Lauri Markkanen. He was up to 10 points on 5 of 6 from the field, as the Lakers led 21-20 after consecutive Davis buckets.

But after two personal fouls on Davis, he sat with 3:34 left in the 1st quarter, and the game tied at 26. Again, far from ideal for the Lakers, as they were already down three starters. Then an 11-3 run ensued for Utah after Jordan Clarkson drilled a pull-up three.

Utah continued to barely miss shots against the Lakers, starting this game 10 of 14 overall and 5 of 7 from three. With no focal point, every Jazz player played aggressively. But the Lake Show was shooting well, too, at 11 for 15, but Utah had six free throws attempted to the Lakers’ 2.

Utah hit 8 of 12 threes, including a buzzer-beater from Clarkson, his 4th three of the night, to put Utah up 42-34 after the first quarter. The Lakers were very efficient, hitting 14 of 20 field goals and 4 of 6 threes, but Utah was +12 from three and +6 at the free-throw line.

The rookie Christie came to play and stepped up when needed to, as he was 2 for four from 3 at this point, providing a much-needed bench lift. After trailing by 11, the Lakers were within four at 55-51 after Davis added a hoop after returning, and Reaves converted two free throws.

 

The Lakers offense was playing above expectations even without LeBron playing, but the Jazz just had their number this season as they proved to be too much for the Lake Show.

 

The Lakers were down 76-71 at halftime, with both teams scoring efficiently. Eighteen points for Westbrook and 19 for Davis, but both sides needed to get some defensive stops.

It was an impressive first half from several Lakers stepping up their usage with three starters out, Reaves with 9 points, three boards, one assist, 7 of 7 FTs, Brown Jr. with 4 of 4 FGs (2 3’s) for 10 points with two boards, and Christie with 2 of 4 3’s, and one assist.

After another poor start to the 3rd quarter, the Lakers trailed 86-73 after a 10-2 Utah run that included the 11th and 12th. Utah made three. Talen Horton-Tucker would come around and posterize Damian Jones, who was sliding over to try and help to put Utah up 108-90 as the Jazz pulled away late in the 3rd quarter.

Nunn was up to 18 points on 7 of 11 field goals to produce his best game of the season yet. He led a late 3rd quarter run to trim what was an 18-point lead to just 12. However, Utah countered with two more made jumpers, a long two-point jumper from Collin Sexton, and a corner three from Rudy Gay. They’re 15 of 28 from three (53.6%) and 42 of 69 overall (60.9%).

But despite all of their efforts, the Lakers have fallen to 2-8 and have now lost three straight games after losing to the Jazz 139-116. They fought hard even without James, Beverley, or Walker IV.

 

Key Takeaways

 

Davis had 29 points on 11-18 shooting from the field. Westbrook had 22 points (8-14 FGs, 2-3 from three) and five assists, but he was also a game-worst -23 in plus/minus. Nunn had 18 points (7-11 FGs, 2-4 from three). The Lakers also allowed a season-high 139 points against the Utah Jazz.

Clarkson was red-hot in this one totaling 22 points on 5-6 shooting from three. Markkanen, despite his defensive struggles against Davis, produced 23 points on 10-15 FGs. Sexton and former Laker Horton-Tucker combined for 32 points off the bench.

The Lakers were outrebounded 41-33, out-assisted 30-15, and out-shot 55.8% FGs and 42.1% from three for the Jazz, and 48.8% FGs and 37.5% from three for the Lake Show.

 

The Lakers will stay at home, but the advantage will be in favor of their opponent, the Los Angeles Clippers. They’ll face off Wednesday, November 9th, at 7:00 p.m. at the Crypto.com Arena. The game will be available on Spectrum SportsNet, NBA League Pass, Bally Sports San Diego, Bally Sports SoCal, ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN2.

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– Jake Ideguchi-Furukawa – Franchise Sports Media

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