Lakers Lean on Depth and Opening-Night Form in Utah

By NBA Stat Desk How we produce articles

Even with Jake LaRavia's status uncertain, the Lakers' opening-night form should be enough in Utah.

LAL @ UTA Oct 25, 2026 at 9:00 PM UTC

The biggest question for the Lakers on Sunday in Salt Lake City is who is available on the wing. Jake LaRavia sprained his right ankle late in the season-opening win over Golden State and was ruled out for the Clippers game. No return timeline has been confirmed, so his availability at Utah is uncertain.

That matters because LaRavia was productive in a small sample. He scored 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting in 18 minutes against the Warriors, and that efficiency and versatility off the bench is hard to replace. If he is out again, JJ Redick will have to keep adjusting. Ziaire Williams would start, and Quentin Grimes and Matisse Thybulle could see more minutes. Sandro Mamukelashvili's role could shift as well. The lineup changes put the most pressure on the Lakers' spacing and second-unit balance.

The roster is thin elsewhere too. Rookie Cameron Carr (oblique strain) and Adou Thiero were ruled out for the Clippers game, which limits the number of bodies Redick can use. Collin Sexton's return from a soleus strain helps. He was set to make his Lakers debut on Friday and gives the backcourt another option.

Still, the Lakers opened with a 127-105 win over Golden State, which shows the group can score and control a game when its rotation is working. If Sexton, Grimes, Thybulle and Williams absorb LaRavia's minutes competently, that should be enough. I expect a closer game than the opener, with Los Angeles making enough plays late to take it.

Prediction: Lakers 114, Jazz 108.

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