Los Angeles Lakers at San Antonio Spurs
AT&T Center – San Antonio, Texas
Wednesday, April 11, 2012, 8:35 pm Eastern, TV: FSN-SA, NBA-LP
Opening Line: San Antonio -9 1/2
Current Line: San Antonio -10
Opening Total: 201 1/2
Current Total: 202
Opening Money Line: Spurs -600 / Lakers +475
Current Money Line: Spurs -625 / Lakers +500
The 40-15 San Antonio Spurs, coached by Gregg Popovich had won 11 games in a row until Monday night when Popovich rested his star players at Utah. The Jazz won 91-84 as the Spurs were playing without Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobli, and Tony Parker. The loss dropped San Antonio a game behind Oklahoma City for the #1 seed in the West. The Spurs lead Memphis by 7.5 games in the Southwest Division and are on the verge of clinching the division title with only 11 games left in the regular season.
The Spurs will take on the 36-22 Los Angeles Lakers who are playing their third straight game without Kobe Bryant. Bryant is nursing an injured shin. The Lakers, coached by Mike Brown, lead the Pacific Division by 1.5 games over the Clippers, and are currently the #3 seed 5.5 games behind the Spurs. The Lakers won at New Orleans Monday night 93-91 to snap a two game losing streak.
The Lakers and Spurs haven’t played yet this season but will play three times in the next 9 days. The two teams split the season series last year 2-2. They could potentially meet in the second round of the playoffs as well.
The Lakers are outscoring opponents 97-95 this season. LA is shooting 45.7% from the field and 31.7% from 3 point range. The Lakers are #7 in field goal percentage. LA makes 75.8% of their free throws. The Lakers are #2 in rebounding averaging 45.9 a game with a rebounding margin of +5.1. Los Angeles averages 22 assists, 15.1 turnovers, 5.8 steals, and 5.4 blocks a game. Laker opponents are shooting 43.2% from the field and 33.7% from 3 point range. The Lakers are in the top 8 in both categories. LA forces 11.3 turnovers a game.
Guard Kobe Bryant leads the league in scoring averaging 28.1 points, along with 5.4 rebounds, 4.6 assists, and 1.2 steals a game to lead the team. Center Andrew Bynum averages 18.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 2 blocks a game. He leads the Lakers in rebounds and blocks. Bynum is #3 in rebounding in the NBA Forward Pau Gasol averages 17.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.3 blocks a game. He is #7 in rebounding in the league. Newly acquired point guard Ramon Sessions (traded from Cleveland last month) averages 11.4 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 5.7 assists to lead the team. Matt Barnes, Metta World Peace, and Steve Blake also get significant minutes. Guard Christian Eyenga is out indefinitely with a toe injury.
San Antonio is outscoring opponents 102-96 this season. The Spurs are #3 in scoring in the NBA. The Spurs are shooting 47.2% from the field and 38.5% from 3 point range. The Spurs are #3 in field goal percentage and #2 in 3 point shooting. San Antonio makes 73.6% from the free throw line. The Spurs average 42.7 rebounds a game with a rebounding margin of +1.6. San Antonio averages 22.6 assists, 13.4 turnovers, 7.3 steals, and 4.5 blocks a game. Spur opponents are shooting 45.4% from the field and 36.1% from 3 point range. San Antonio forces 13.6 turnovers a game.
San Antonio point guard Tony Parker averages 19.1 points, 2.8 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 1 steal a game. He leads the Spurs in scoring and assists. Tim Duncan averages 15 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.5 blocks a game. He leads the Spurs in rebounds and blocks. Manu Ginobli averages 12.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.5 assists a game. Kawhi Leonard leads the Spurs in steals with 1.4 a game.
San Antonio is 33-19-3 ATS and the total is 31-24 this season. Los Angeles is 23-35 ATS this season, and the total is 32-25-1. The Lakers are 9-4 ATS against the Spurs recently, including 5-2 in San Antonio. The under is 21-7 in this series and 19-7 in games played in San Antonio. The Lakers are 4-0 ATS as a road underdog, 7-1 in Wednesday games, 5-1 as an underdog, 9-4-2 as a road underdog of 5-10.5 points, 10-21 in road games, 2-5 against teams with winning records, 5-16 overall, 6-20 on 1 day rest, 2-12 against Western Conference teams, 1-8 after failing to cover, and after a straight up win, and 0-4 against Southwest Division teams. The Spurs are 7-0 ATS after failing to cover, 4-0-1 as a home favorite of 5-10.5 points, 8-1-2 in Wednesday games, 13-2-1 on 1 day rest, 5-1-1 as a favorite of 5-10.5 points, 13-3-2 at home against teams with losing road records, 12-3-1 after failing to cover, 4-1-2 against teams with winning records, 18-5-3 as a favorite, 24-8-3 overall, 3-1-1 against Western conference teams, and 19-7-2 as a home favorite.
It will be difficult for the Lakers to win in San Antonio where the Spurs have won 8 straight games. This is especially true with Kobe. The Spurs should win this game comfortably.
