Here is what you need to know before the Lakers’ trip to Salt Lake City to meet the Utah Jazz.
1) After dropping a team-best 22 points at Golden State on Thursday, Jordan Clarkson has now scored double figures in nine straight games — the second-longest streak of his young career. He has notched at least 10 points in 18 of his last 19 games.
2) Larry Nance Jr. flashed some defensive prowess in Los Angeles’ meeting with the Warriors, coming up with six steals. That haul is the most by a rookie Laker since Eddie Jones in 1994 and the most by an L.A. big man since Vlade Divac in 1993.
3) Kobe Bryant (sore right shoulder and right Achilles strain) is considered questionable for Saturday’s game. If he does play, he needs only five minutes to pass John Stockton (47,764) for the seventh-most minutes played in NBA history.
4) Bryant isn’t the only player hobbled, as Brandon Bass (sore right foot) is questionable and Julius Randle (sore right foot) is probable. Meanwhile, Utah might be without Derrick Favors (low back soreness) and Trevor Booker (concussion-like symptoms).
5) The last time these teams met was just six days ago at Staples Center. Utah ground out a win by holding the Lakers to a season-low 74 points on just 32.6 percent shooting. L.A. also had its worst night from 3-point range, going just 3-of-21.
6) Gordon Hayward continues to get better for Utah year after year. He has increased his scoring average by at least two points in four straight seasons. The only other players to ever do that are Bryant and Gary Payton.
7) The Jazz are much stronger with Rudy Gobert — who led the league in rim protection last year by holding opponents to 40.5 percent shooting at the hoop — back in the lineup. Utah is 10-9 with the 7-foot-1 Frenchman and just 7-13 without him.
8) Rodney Hood has quietly been one of the brighter selections from last year’s draft, as he ranks third among sophomores in scoring (13.2 ppg). The only second-year players ahead of him are Andrew Wiggins (20.8) and Clarkson (15.3).
9) The Jazz try to limit opponents by running the league’s slowest pace. In fact, this is a major reason for them allowing a league-low 19.0 assists. However, it can also work the other way, as Utah is averaging just 17.9 assists itself — which is on track for the fewest of any team in six years.
10) The Lakers face the Jazz one more time after Saturday, which will be on April 13. That is the season finale and is also scheduled to be Bryant’s final game in the NBA.
