L.A. Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder Betting Odds


Opening Betting Lines: Lakers +2 / Thunder -2 O/U 194

Time: 9:30 PM EST Saturday April 24, 2010 on ESPN

The Lakers lead this best of 7 series 2-1.

The Oklahoma City Thunder host the L.A. Lakers tonight in game 4 of a Western Conference opening round series. The Thunder got back in the series with a win in Game 3 Thursday night and the main reason Oklahoma City won was Kevin Durant. He was only 8/24 from the floor, but he pulled down 19 boards and played shutdown defense on Kobe Bryant, limiting him to 2/10 shooting in the 4th quarter.

This season the Thunder were 27-14 at home and 48-34 ATS and the Lakers were 23-18 on the road and 34-46-2 ATS.

Oklahoma City won Game 3 101-96 on Friday night.

Kobe was only 10/29 from the floor in Game 3 and he may want to pass it off in this game, as in Thursday's loss every other Lakers' starter shot at least 50% from the floor.

One of the big reasons that Oklahoma City won Game 3 is that they out-rebounded L.A. by 14 (53-39). Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum have to make sure that does not happen tonight or they will likely be going back to L.A. tied in this series.

The Lakers shot a better FG% and had fewer turnovers in Game 3, but the lack of rebounding killed them.

The Lakers also have to step up their perimeter defense in tonight's game, as in Game 3 the Thunder shot lights out from deep hitting 42.1% of their 3-pointers and PG Russell Westbrook dropped 27 points.

Even though Durant had a tough night shooting he did get to the charity stripe 13 times and hit 12 of his free throw shots. The Lakers have to force him to beat them from outside and not foul him when he goes to the bucket.

Last season the Lakers lost focus in a few games much like they did in Game 3, but Zen Master Phil Jackson will surely have them ready for tonight's game.

The Lakers have lost 2 straight games in Oklahoma City, including Game 3 on Thursday.

Betting Trends

L.A. is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games, 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games as a road underdog of 0.5-4.5, and has an Over record of 5-2 in Lakers last 7 road games.

Oklahoma City is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 home games against teams with a winning road record, 14-6 ATS in their last 20 games against teams with a winning percentage above 60%, and has an Over record of 9-4 in their last 13 games.

L.A. is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games against the Thunder.

Our Selection : Take the Lakers +2


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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