Lakers vs. Jazz Preview: First road game of the season

The Lakers (2-0) head to Salt Lake City where they will face the Utah Jazz (1-1) on Sunday afternoon.

The purple and gold will take on a Jazz team that’s coming off a thrilling one-point over the New Orleans Pelicans.

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Start time and TV schedule

Who: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Utah Jazz

When: 2 p.m. PT, Oct 25

Where: Delta Center

Watch: Spectrum Sportsnet

Over the past few seasons, the Lakers and Jazz have built a strong working relationship on the trade market.

The trend started in 2022, when Los Angeles sought a point-of-attack defender and acquired Patrick Beverley for Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson. That season — which was Westbrook’s second year with the Lakers — was such a disaster that, at the trade deadline in 2023, the Jazz stepped in to facilitate a three-team deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves. The trade sent Westbrook to Utah and brought D’Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley and Jarred Vanderbilt to Los Angeles.

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Importantly, the Jazz also played an instrumental role in bringing Luka Dončić to Los Angeles by being the third team that acquired Jalen Hood-Schifino and draft assets to help give the Lakers flexibility to do the trade. Apparently, current Jazz CEO Danny Ainge had no idea he was helping the Lakers acquire Dončić was which was incredibly hilarious.

It doesn’t stop there. In the offseason, the Jazz also helped the Lakers land their biggest offseason signing by trading Walker Kessler.

Suffice it to say, both teams have helped shape each other into what they are today.

Thank you for Walker, Utah!

Two games into the season, Kessler is showing why Dončić wanted to play with him. Not only has he quickly become the team’s defensive anchor but also the perfect big alongside Dončić and Austin offensively. While it’s too early to draw any firm conclusions, the Lakers’ willingness to give up a substantial package for the 25-year-old center is already looking more justified.

On Sunday, Kessler returns to the city he called home for four years. There’s no doubt that Jazz head coach Will Hardy will know how to game plan against him best, so it’s going to be interesting to see…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lakers-vs-jazz-preview-first-005534430.html

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Publish date : 2026-10-25 00:55:00

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