Lakers take on Jazz, look to inch closer to 6th seed

by Benjamin Greenspan

The Lakers have been on a roll, winning seven of their last eight games. Leading the way is Anthony Davis, who has been playing at an MVP level, averaging 38.7 points and 11.7 rebounds last week, which earned him the Western Conference Player of the Week. 

Davis and the rest of the supporting cast hope to continue their winning ways against the Utah Jazz, who are currently 12th in the Western Conference and on their last legs for a chance at the play-in tournament. 

The Jazz have been plagued with injuries as of late, with their standout rookie Walker Kessler set to miss the rest of the season with a concussion injury. Utah has also been without key role players Jordan Clarkson and Rudy Gay for an extended period of time, who have already been ruled out of the game against the Lakers.

The Jazz may get standout player Collin Sexton back, who is listed as questionable after being out five weeks with a hamstring injury. Also questionable is the All-Star Lauri Markkanen, who is questionable with a left-hand contusion. 

With all of these injuries, the Jazz have been led by none other than former Laker Talen Horton-Tucker, who has averaged a little over 33 points per game in his last three games. For LA to win, they are going to have to enter this game with the same intensity that has led them to victory this past week. 

Despite being the healthiest they have been all season, the Lakers are still dealing with injuries of their own. D’Angelo Russell missed the second half of the game in Houston due to left foot soreness. Russell is probable for the game tomorrow, as Darvin Ham stated he was sitting out mainly for precautionary purposes. 

Every game in this last week of the regular season is critical, with LA hoping to avoid the play-in tournament. A win tomorrow against Utah will put them in prime position to gain the sixth spot, which will be dependent on the result of the Warriors vs Thunder game happening at the same time.

While losses from the Warriors, Timberwolves, Pelicans, Clippers, and Thunder will certainly help, the fate of the Lakers is in their own hands and can only be decided by their performance on the court.

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