The Lakers are back on the road where they will play their next four games, starting with the Utah Jazz on Sunday. This is the second time Los Angeles and Utah have met in the last two weeks.

Start time and TV program

WHO: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Utah Jazz

When: 5:00 p.m. PT, December 1st

Where: Delta Center

Regard: Spectrum SportsNet

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The Lakers’ recent loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, which also ended their NBA Cup title defense, was frustrating on several levels.

First, it was uncharacteristic for Anthony Davis and LeBron James to combine for just 27 points, nine points shy of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s total of 36. James in particular struggled, having five turnovers, three of which were travel errors.

Second, Los Angeles played arguably its best defensive game since opening night, but still surrendered 15 offensive boards to a poor rebounding team and turned the ball over 17 times. Plus, LA finally got two good D’Angelo Russell games in a row this season, which ultimately fell through because they weren’t able to stay on top of things.

It felt like a game in which so many things that normally don’t go wrong for the Lakers went against them and now they have no choice but to live and learn from this loss. The purple and gold, who have now lost four of their last five, desperately need a win, which should happen on Sunday against the Jazz.

Lakers vs. Jazz round two

The last time these two teams faced each other was less than two weeks ago in Los Angeles.

It was an NBA Cup game and Dalton Knecht stole the show as he pulled off the upset in the third quarter, scoring 22 straight points and finishing the night with a career-high 37 points on 9-12 three-point shooting.

That was the same game in which LA had a lead of up to 25 points, but Utah battled back and cut the lead to seven late in the fourth quarter.

Honestly, this win against the Jazz was one of the last above-average games the Lakers have played in a long time. Los Angeles could use another move to stay in the standings and get back on track.

It starts with another good game from everyone involved.

Can D’Lo make it three good games in a row? Will Rui Hachimura maintain his defensive performance? Can Knecht stay hot as a starter? And most importantly: Will AD and LeBron bounce back? It would be nice if the Lakers could beat a Jazz team that has lost seven of its last 10 games for the second night in a row.

Russell may not be able to have three good games in a row if he doesn’t play. He is currently listed as questionable on the injury report due to illness.

With or without D’Lo, expect this game to be more difficult than the last time the two played each other. Not only will the Jazz be at home, but they will also have Walker Kessler back on the roster.

Still, the Lakers should view this game as a chance to do the right thing, because the last thing they want to do is pile up losses.

Let’s see if the Lakers can start December well and start this four-game road trip with a win.

Notes and updates

• This will be the first night in a row for the Lakers, who face the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday.
• The Lakers’ injury report lists Anthony Davis (left plantar fasciitis) as probable.
• Austin Reaves (left pelvic contusion) is questionable.
• D’Angelo Russell (illness) is questionable.
• Jaxson Hayes (right ankle sprain/bruise), Jarred Vanderbilt (recovering from right foot surgery), Christian Wood (recovering from left knee surgery) and Bronny James Jr. (left heel contusion) are out.
• The latest update on Hayes is that he sprained his ankle again and will be out for at least the next two to three weeks.
• With the Jazz playing for the second night in a row, there is no update on their injury report. However, it’s worth noting that Jordan Clarkson (left plantar fasciitis), Kyle Filpowski (left lower leg injury) and Taylor Hendricks (right fibula fracture) did not play against the Mavs on Saturday.
• We’ll be live on playback for this game, so be sure to join us!

You can follow Nicole on Twitter at @nicoleganglanI.