James and Mitchell clash in Los Angeles-Utah matchup

Updated Jan. 17, 2022 3:02 a.m. ET

Associated Press

Utah Jazz (29-14, third in the Western Conference) vs. Los Angeles Lakers (21-22, eighth in the Western Conference)

Los Angeles; Monday, 10:30 p.m. EST

LINE: Lakers -4.5; over/under is 231.5

BOTTOM LINE: LeBron James and Donovan Mitchell meet when Los Angeles faces Utah. James is second in the NBA averaging 28.9 points per game and Mitchell is seventh in the league averaging 25.8 points per game.

The Lakers have gone 12-16 against Western Conference opponents. Los Angeles is second in the Western Conference with 15.0 fast break points per game led by James averaging 4.4.

The Jazz are 19-4 in Western Conference play. Utah ranks sixth in the Western Conference giving up only 107.5 points while holding opponents to 44.9% shooting.

TOP PERFORMERS: James is scoring 28.9 points per game and averaging 7.5 rebounds for the Lakers. Malik Monk is averaging 3.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games for Los Angeles.

Mitchell is averaging 25.8 points, 5.1 assists and 1.6 steals for the Jazz. Bojan Bogdanovic is averaging 19.9 points over the last 10 games for Utah.

LAST 10 GAMES: Lakers: 5-5, averaging 118.0 points, 42.7 rebounds, 26.0 assists, 7.6 steals and 5.2 blocks per game while shooting 47.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 117.5 points per game.

Jazz: 5-5, averaging 113.9 points, 42.9 rebounds, 20.6 assists, 6.3 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 47.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 113.5 points.

INJURIES: Lakers: Carmelo Anthony: day to day (back), LeBron James: day to day (abdominal), Anthony Davis: out (knee), Dwight Howard: day to day (knee), Kendrick Nunn: out (knee).

Jazz: Hassan Whiteside: out (health protocols), Jared Butler: out (health and safety protocols), Elijah Hughes: out (illness).

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