Los Angeles Lakers at Oklahoma City Thunder
Friday, 12/7/12, 9:30 PM EST, TV: ESPN
Opening Point Spread: Oklahoma City -8.5
Current Betting Line: Oklahoma City -8
Opening Total: 210
Current Total: 210
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Los Angeles will look to win back-to-back games for the first time since mid-November, as it comes off a dominating 103-87 victory over the New Orleans Hornets as 4.5-point road favorites. The Lakers were led by guard Kobe Bryant’s 29 points, as he eclipsed the 30,000-point plateau for his career. “It’s pretty awesome,” stated Bryant after the game. He is averaging 28.0 points on 49 percent shooting this year, while center Dwight Howard sits behind him at 18.5 points and 11.2 rebounds per game. Los Angeles is 1-5 ATS as a road underdog of 6.5 to 9 points since 2010.
The Lakers dropped last season’s series with the Thunder, losing two of three regular-season games, while also falling short against them in the NBA playoffs. Los Angeles has won nine of 13 meetings during the regular season since the Thunder relocated to Oklahoma City prior to the 2008-09 campaign. Bryant averaged 31.2 points in last year’s Western Conference semifinal series in which the franchise fell short in five games.
Oklahoma City has broken the century mark in scoring in every game during its six-game winning streak, including a 117-111 victory over the Brooklyn Nets as four-point road favorites. The Thunder were led by forward Kevin Durant’s 32 points in that contest, bumping up his season average to 26.5. The franchise has won nine of 11 games at Chesapeake Energy Arena this year, including a 5-1 mark versus conference foes. Oklahoma City is 2-0 ATS when playing with two days reset this year, with the OVER cashing in each of those contests.
The Thunder should have no trouble scoring 100 or more points in this affair, considering that point guard Russell Westbrook should have his way against the Lakers. He averaged 25.6 points against them in last year’s playoffs. Oklahoma City has outscored its opponents by an average of 18.9 points per game during its current win streak. Durant and Westbrook are a big reason why the team leads the NBA in averaging 105.7 points per game.
Sports bettors will likely play the total in this contest, as the OVER is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
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