The Los Angeles Lakers will be facing an old opponent tonight – the Utah Jazz. The last they met was on April 10. This will be the first meeting for both in the in-season tournament. The Lakers are coming off a hard-fought win over the Houston Rockets on Sunday. The Jazz, on the other hand, were beaten by the Phoenix Suns both times they met. So, they will be looking to turn that around.

But the Lakers cannot be dismissed that easily, even with the prevalent confusion and a possible LeBron-less game. With that possibility in mind, let’s take a look at their starting five.

The expected starting lineup for the Los Angeles Lakers

The Lakers’ starting lineup is expected to feature LeBron James, Anthony Davis, D’Angelo Russell, Cam Reddish, and Taurean Prince. With LeBron James mentioning on different occasions how he’s been feeling “under the weather”, it’s natural that every game has a nail-biting quality. The Lakers without the King, to put it mildly, have struggled.

And when he is playing, there is a tendency to rely too much on him, knowing that James will do anything to carry them over the edge. Talking to a reporter right after their Houston win, James confirmed he was not feeling well, nor was he in the best of conditions. Physically, as far as we know, he has a calf contusion to deal with.

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Compared to the injuries he’s sustained over the years, this can be seen as nothing more than a scratch. But what we have to take into consideration is his age, and the strain and blows his body was subjected to in many aggressive games. They are bound to show up sooner or later.

Another aspect is a comment about his mental health. “Even if my body’s not feeling great, you gotta get your mind right,” he said. It makes one wonder what could be going on in that brilliant mind of his.

He also added, “Being a part of the lineup means I must deliver, no excuses – regardless of my physical state. It’s essential to stay mentally ready.” And we could never expect anything less than greatness from King James. But is he enough to take the Lakers forward?

Can the Jazz hope to beat LeBron James and co. on their home turf?

Tracking the progress (or lack of it) of the purple and gold might give the Jazz some hope. The Beehive State’s close run-in with the Suns left them scorched. The worst part happened in their last matchup with Phoenix when the double OT did not yield the results they had hoped.

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Utah has produced solid ratings on the offensive end. Ranking 10th in offensive rating as compared to the Lakers 24th, the Jazz can surely use that to their advantage. The Jazz’s offensive talent, Lauri Markkanen continues to dominate the games. The 7’3 forward can play all three frontcourt positions and leads with averages of 24.8 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.

Other players who regularly feature in the Utah Jazz lineup include George, Collins, Sexton, and Clarkson. If the Jazz can think on their feet and use their offensive acumen to the best of their abilities, there is a chance that they can emerge winners.

Then again, this is the Lakers turf. The wholehearted support and confidence that a home court offers is a supreme advantage. Can the Jazz break the two-game skid tonight? Or has the Lakers got their groove back? Let us know your predictions below!

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