Here is what you need to know before the Lakers return to Staples Center to face the Utah Jazz.
1)
The Lakers received a monster effort from Lou Williams in their last game, as he dropped 40 points — the second-most of his career — on Memphis Saturday. Williams scored 21 in the second quarter alone on his way to the highest scoring total of any Laker this year, but it still wasn’t enough, as the Grizzlies pulled out a 103-100 win.
2)
Having already been named 2014 Sixth Man of the Year, Williams is steadily building a case for the award once again, leading all bench players with 17.5 points per game. Most of his competitors have been putting up numbers for middling teams, as Williams and teammate Jordan Clarkson (14.6 ppg) are the top two scoring reserves who have played in at least 10 wins.
3)
The Lakers are looking to exact revenge on the team that handed them their first loss of the season, as Utah defended its home court, 96-89, on Oct. 28. George Hill scored 23 points for the Jazz in that game, but the defensive effort was more impressive, as Los Angeles was held to 38.1 percent shooting from the field.
4)
Of course, the last time the Jazz visited Staples Center they were on the other end of one of the most memorable nights in Lakers history. Kobe Bryant ended his career in style on April 13 by scoring 60 points against Utah, while some current Lakers played big supporting roles. Julius Randle was the one setting screens for Bryant on almost every possession down the stretch, and Clarkson dunked a full-court assist from Kobe on the final play of his career.
5)
Both teams enter this game on the mend, as the Jazz could be without three players, including Hill, who has been effective when healthy during his first year in Salt Lake City. Meanwhile, L.A. will be missing three Lakers — including its top two point guards (D’Angelo Russell, Jose Calderon) — while Larry Nance Jr. (right knee contusion) is questionable as well.
6)
The Jazz have been rolling as of late. After losing four games in a row mid-November, they have now won five of their last six. Utah has been blowing teams out during this run, outscoring its opponents by an average of 14.3 points while limiting them to a league-worst 40.6 field goal percentage.
7)
Utah’s success can be traced right back to its leader, Gordon Hayward, who has topped 30 points in three straight contests. The Indianapolis native has been excellent at creating contact and finishing at the free throw line, which has helped him put together a streak of seven straight 20-point games, over which he is averaging 27.1.
8)
The Jazz are also led by 7-foot-1, 245-pound Rudy Gobert. The Frenchman has been one of the league’s top bigs, leading the NBA in field goal percentage (64.2), while ranking third in blocks (2.52) and seventh in rebounds (11.0). His mammoth frame is a blessing for Utah’s guards, as he is also second in the league in screen assists (6.1).
9)
Gobert is the focal point of a Jazz defense that is arguably the most formidable in the NBA. Utah limits its opponents to the fewest points (94.8) and assists (18.1), while forcing them to shoot the second-worst field goal percentage (42.8).
10)
Another huge reason for the Jazz’s defensive success is their trademark grind-it-down pace. Utah plays the slowest basketball in the league, averaging only 93.2 possessions per game, which poses a challenge for the Lakers, who like to get up and running with 101.5 possessions a night.
Injury Report
Lakers: D’Angelo Russell (sore left knee), Nick Young (strained calf, right leg) and Jose Calderon (right hamstring strain) are out. Larry Nance Jr. (right knee contusion) is questionable.
Jazz: George Hill (sprained left big toe), Derrick Favors (left knee bone contusion) and Alec Burks (left ankle rehabilitation) are to be determined after missing Utah’s last game on Saturday.
Tip-off: 7:30 p.m. PT
TV: Spectrum SportsNet and Spectrum Deportes
Radio: 710 ESPN and 1330 KWKW