Utah Jazz at L.A. Lakers Betting Odds


Opening Betting Lines: Jazz +5.5 / Lakers -5.5 O/U 199

Time: 10:30 PM EST Tuesday May 4, 2010 on TNT

The Lakers lead this best of 7 series 1-0.

Tonight in Game 2 of a Western Conference semifinals series the L.A. Lakers host the Utah Jazz. The Lakers won Game 1 by 5 points, as Kobe Bryant took over late and scored 11 points in the last 4 minutes. The Lakers did score over 100 points in Game 1, but it was their solid defense at the end of the game that won it for them, as they held the Jazz to only 1 FG in the last 4 minutes of the game. The Jazz will have to step it up and perform in the clutch tonight or they will be going home down 2-0 in this series.

This season the Lakers were 34-7 at home and 34-46-2 ATS and the Jazz were 21-20 on the road and 49-30-3 ATS.

The Lakers won Game 1 104-99 on Sunday.

The Jazz have to play better overall defense in tonight's game, as in Game 1 they allowed the Lakers to shoot over 53% from the floor. Every Lakers' starter besides Ron Artest (4/9 shooting) shot at least 50% from the floor.

Even though the Lakers shot the rock well in Game 1 they need to hit the long ball better than they did in Game 1 where they only hit on 2/12 of their 3-pointers.

Jazz defensive ace Andrei Kirilenko still has an injured calf and he did practice on Monday, but he will be a game time decision tonight and he stated that his chances of playing are 50/50. The Jazz could really use his defense in tonight's game.

The Jazz D really struggled against the 7-foot duo of Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, who combined for 33 points and 22 boards in Game 1 and the Jazz interior players have to defend these guys better and especially not them dominate the boards.

The one main weakness for the Lakers in the season and in Game 1 was their bench play, as if they play well the Lakers will be tough to beat.

The Lakers were a little sloppy in Game 1 committing 14 turnovers and they have to hold onto the rock tonight.

Deron Williams has an injured elbow, but you couldn't tell in Game 1 when he had 24 points on 7/15 shooting. He has to have another good game for the Jazz to win tonight.

Betting Trends

Utah is 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games as a road underdog, 5-16-1 ATS in their last 22 games as a road underdog of 5.0-10.5, and has an Over record of 4-0 in their last 4 games.

L.A. is 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games, 4-11-1 ATS in their last 16 games as a home favorite, and has an Over record of 4-1 in their last 5 games.

In the last 8 games between these 2 teams the total has gone Under 7 times.

Our Selection : Take the Jazz +5.5 at SportsInteraction.


Future Betting Odds

NBA Handicapping

Dallas Mavericks at Miami Heat Odds 6-12
The Mavs are up 3-2 in this series heading to South Beach and for the Heat to force Game 7 they will have to play better in the 4th quarter, especially LeBron James. 5Dimes has the hometown Heat as 5-point favorites in Game 6 with a total of 187.

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