The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz 2017-18 Week 25 Outlook, Predictions

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 30: Donovan Mitchell #45 and Jae Crowder #99 of the Utah Jazz react during game against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 30, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - MARCH 30: Donovan Mitchell #45 and Jae Crowder #99 of the Utah Jazz react during game against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 30, 2018 at vivint.SmartHome Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Melissa Majchrzak/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – MARCH 22: Julius Randle #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – MARCH 22: Julius Randle #30 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts during the first half against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 22, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

4/8 Utah at Los Angeles Lakers

4:00 pm MT – AT&T SportsNet/League Pass

Opponent record: 33-43

Season series: Jazz lead 1-0

As I mentioned, the Utah Jazz will close out the week by facing the Los Angeles Lakers once again. The only difference this time around is that the game will be played on the road. Surprisingly enough, that actually isn’t necessarily a bad thing for Utah as they’ve been exceptional away from home of late, winning 14 of their last 15 road contests.

Again, the Lakers have shown plenty of signs of life and should play with energy, but combine Utah’s success away from home with how much more they’ll have at stake in this contest than the Lakers, and I believe they’ll find the motivation to earn yet another victory over a Los Angeles team in their third and final contest of the week.

My Prediction: Jazz Win

Final Score: Utah 110, Los Angeles 102

Next: Utah Jazz notes: Jeremy Evans gets called up, Mark Eaton’s new book

So once again, I’m letting my optimism get the best of me and am predicting that the Jazz will go a perfect 3-0. They were close to doing so last week and with some lessened competition, heightened stakes and a seeming return to a stellar level of play as they exhibited in Sunday’s win, the formula all seems in tact for Utah to post a perfect week.

Doing so could put them in a great spot to perhaps still nab home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. Utah is just one game back of the fourth-place San Antonio Spurs (over whom they own the tiebreaker), who face a challenging week themselves. Of course, the Jazz should only worry about taking care of their own business, but doing so could put them in an excellent spot leading up to the 26th and final week of the NBA regular season.

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