Lakers look for 3-0 lead against Thunder
By Jack Williams • Apr 22nd, 2010 • Category: NBAThe Los Angeles Lakers can take a nearly-impossible-to-overcome 3-0 lead in their NBA Western Conference quarterfinal series when they visit the Oklahoma City Thunder for Game 3 on Thursday (9:35 pm ET, TNT).
But Oklahoma City is a 3.5-point favorite and the over/under total at 191 in NBA Betting at JustBet.
The Lakers took a 2-0 lead in the best-of-seven NBA Playoff series when Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 39 points to lead his team to a 95-92 win in Game 2 of their first-round series on Tuesday night at the Staples Center.
Kobe and company did not cover the point spread as a 5.5-point home favorite and the score went under the over/under total of 192.5.
The Lakers also got 25 points and a dozen boards from Pau Gasol, while Kevin Durant was a monster for Oklahoma City, scoring a team-high 32 points to go along with eight boards and four blocks. Russell Westbrook added 19 points and six rebounds for the Thunder.
Los Angeles has had the upper hand against the Thunder over the past 10 meetings, going 9-1 straight up, and 14-1 SU in the past 15. But they have had trouble covering the spread at 5-5 ATS in the past 10 meetings, and 2-4 ATS in the past six.
Los Angeles was 57-25 SU and 34-46-2 ATS this season while Oklahoma City was 50-32 SU and 48-34 ATS.
The total has gone under in four of the past five meetings, both overall and in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma City is 15-4 SU in its last 19 games at home.
Jack Williams is a longtime sports writer and handicapper. Jack attended the University of Florida, where he earned a degree in journalism.
In the '80s, he began his career as a sportswriter, first in Miami, then in New York City, where he still lives.
He is a big fan of the New York Jets but he still has a soft spot for the Gators.
Email this author | All posts by Jack Williams
