Los Angeles Lakers at Miami Heat
Thursday, 1/19/12, 8:00 PM EST, TV: TNT
Opening Point Spread: Miami -5.5
Current Betting Line: Miami -5.5
Opening Total: 191
Current Total: 191
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker
Los Angeles has won six of its last seven games and comes off a 73-70 win over the Dallas Mavericks as 3.5-point home favorites. The Lakers are 1-4 on the road this season, as the squad starts a two-game trip in the Sunshine State. Star guard Kobe Bryant is enjoying a great start to the 2011-12 campaign, as he scored at least 40 points in four straight games, but ranks seventh in the NBA in averaging 37.7 minutes per game. “I do want to get it down,” commented Lakers head coach Mike Brown. “He’s played a ton of minutes too early right now.” Los Angeles is 0-2 ATS as a road underdog of 3.5 to 6 points.
The Lakers dropped both meetings with the Heat a year ago, posting a 5-5 record in their last 10 meetings in the series. Los Angeles ranks 19th in the league in scoring 93.3 points per game, but comes in with the fifth-best defense. That unit will be challenged in facing a Miami squad that averages 107.2 points per game, which leads all teams.
Miami snapped a three-game losing streak by capturing a 120-98 blowout win over the San Antonio Spurs as seven-point home favorites Tuesday night. The Heat have also managed to go ‘over’ the total in six of their last seven games, including a posted total of 197.5 last time out. Star forward LeBron James is leading the team with guard Dwyane Wade out of the lineup with an ankle injury. “It’s not about LeBron and Kobe,” he stated this week. “It’s the Lakers versus Heat thing.” He has averaged 27.9 points, 7.6 rebounds and seven assists in the last 11 meetings versus Bryant. Miami is 2-4 ATS after scoring 105 or more points.
The Heat shot a blistering 68.3 percent from the floor during the final 24 minutes of their game against the Spurs, outscoring them by a lopsided 71-35 margin. James scored 33 points and dished out 10 assists, getting help from center Chris Bosh pouring in 30 points. Miami’s eight-point differential is third-best in the league. Everyone around the franchise is hoping that forward Mike Miller has gotten over nagging injuries, hitting all six three-point shots versus the Spurs on Tuesday.
Bettors will likely back the Lakers due to their 5-1 ATS mark as a road underdog of 5 to 10.5 points, while the Heat are 1-4 ATS versus Western Conference foes.
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