National Basketball Association
Preview
L.A. Lakers at Utah
When: 9:00 PM ET, Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Where: Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah

After Luka Doncic's successful, albeit limited, debut for Los Angeles on Monday, the Lakers aim to extend their win streak to seven games on Wednesday night when they visit the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City.

Los Angeles coach JJ Redick said he plans on playing Doncic alongside LeBron James against the Jazz in the team's final game before the week-long All-Star break. Doncic is listed as questionable due to a left calf strain on the team's injury report, while James is probable due to left ankle soreness.

The Jazz, meanwhile, are opening a back-to-back set featuring both Los Angeles teams -- the Clippers come to town on Thursday night. Utah has lost three straight games and 15 of their last 18.

The Lakers are going for a four-game sweep of the season series after cruising to a 132-113 victory over the Jazz on Monday night.

The 25-year-old Doncic played for the first time after being traded from Dallas earlier this month in a blockbuster deal that involved fellow All-NBA player Anthony Davis going to the Mavericks.

In his first game since sustaining a calf injury on Christmas Day, Doncic amassed 14 points, five rebounds and four assists in 24 minutes.

"I was a little bit nervous before," Doncic said. "I don't remember the last time I was nervous before the game. But once I stepped on the court, it was fun. And just being out there again felt amazing."

Doncic said he was inspired by a pregame message from his new superstar teammate. As overheard on the ESPN broadcast, James colorfully told Doncic, "Be yourself".

"For him to say something like that just feels amazing. It gives me confidence," Doncic said. "And after that speech, it was chills. I was just happy to be a part of it."

This will give James and Doncic another chance to build chemistry after some have questioned whether two players who are accustomed to being the No. 1 option can be successful together in the long term.

"They're two of the best thinkers, problem solvers that we've ever seen," Jazz coach Will Hardy said. "I don't see any world where those two playing together isn't a good thing. Like I said, their processing speed, mentally, is incredible. And so, I'm sure they'll figure it out."

On Monday, James made 10 of 17 shots for 24 points with eight assists and seven rebounds. He played 29 minutes. Austin Reaves had 22 points and nine boards.

By late in the first quarter, the Jazz succumbed to the pressure of the night and the Lakers' offensive weapons.

Despite having most of their roster back, Utah trailed by 12 points after the first quarter, gave up 72 total points in the first half, and trailed by as many as 34 points in the game.

Seven Jazz players scored in double figures, with John Collins (17 points, 11 rebounds) and Walker Kessler (13 points, 12 rebounds) each earning double-doubles. Lauri Markkanen also scored 17 points.

Defensively, though, the Jazz struggled all night, allowing the Lakers to shoot 54.3 percent from the field.

"We've got to learn how to not be rattled by opponents' big-time shots or stuff like that. That's a continual training process and continual learning process," Kessler said. "Regardless of what people will say about us, I think we're very resilient, and I think that we'll come out. We'll lose some tough ones, but in the long run, that's going to do us well."

On Tuesday, the Lakers made another attempt to add frontcourt depth with the signing of free agent 12-year veteran center Alex Len. The move came after a trade to acquire center Mark Williams from Charlotte fell apart, reportedly over the results of Williams' physical with the Lakers' medical personnel.

Len, 31, played this season for the Sacramento Kings, averaging 1.4 points and 1.8 rebounds across 7.2 minutes in 36 games (three starts).

--Field Level Media

Stats and Records
Team Comparison
  W/L Strk Home Away Day Night Div Conf
L.A. Lakers 32-19 W6 19-6 13-13 4-0 28-19 9-3 20-11
Utah 12-40 L3 5-18 7-22 3-1 9-39 1-7 4-31
Last Meeting
L.A. Lakers Utah
Date Away Home Pts Reb FG% Pts Reb FG%
2/10/25 UTA 113 LAL 132 132 44 54.3 113 39 46.4
Player Stats
Previous Matchup
Points Player Total FG% FTM
L.A. Lakers L. James 24 58.8 1
Utah J. Collins 17 50.0 6
Rebounds Player Total Off Def
L.A. Lakers A. Reaves 9 3 6
Utah W. Kessler 12 5 7
Assists Player  
L.A. Lakers L. James 8
Utah I. Collier 10
Season
Points Player Total FG% FTM
L.A. Lakers L. James 1185 51.5 164
Utah C. Sexton 910 47.6 169
Rebounds Player Total Off Def
L.A. Lakers L. James 378 42 336
Utah W. Kessler 533 197 336
Assists Player  
L.A. Lakers L. James 435
Utah I. Collier 262
Quickchart Matchup
L.A. Lakers L.A. Lakers Off vs  Utah Utah Defense
L.A. Lakers Off vs Utah - Points For 113.2 Points For
L.A. Lakers Off vs Utah - Points Against 119.4 Points Against
L.A. Lakers - FG% 48.4 FG%
Utah - FG% 47.9 FG%
L.A. Lakers - Reb 41.9 Reb
Utah - Reb 42.6 Reb
Utah Utah Off vs  L.A. Lakers L.A. Lakers Defense
Utah Off vs L.A. Lakers - Points For 111.9 Points For
Utah Off vs L.A. Lakers - Points Against 112.1 Points Against
Utah - FG% 45.7 FG%
L.A. Lakers - FG% 46.6 FG%
Utah - Reb 45.4 Reb
L.A. Lakers - Reb 43.0 Reb