Oklahoma City Thunder versus LA Lakers ABC TV NBA Playoffs Game 1 Pro Basketball Sports Betting Odds Pick Preview

Published on April 16, 2010 by admin · No Comments

Kobe Bryant the LA Lakers will begin defense of their NBA championship when they host Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma City Thunder for a game 1 of an opening round Western conference NBA playoff game on Sunday afternoon. Tip off time from Staples Center in Los Angeles is scheduled for 12PM Eastern Time and you can watch it on ABC.

The LVSC odds makers opened this NBA playoff game and the home team LA Lakers opened up as 9 ½ point favorites and the over under came in at 202.

This game 1 Western conference playoff game has seen the movement early come on the side of the underdog Oklahoma City Thunder, as the LA Lakers are currently 8-point favorites. The total has seen movement heavily downward, as the game is hung at 197.

Those backing the defending NBA champion LA Lakers on the money line will find –400 odds with the road underdog Oklahoma City Thunder bringing back +350 to pull off the game 1 upset victory without of the aid of taking the points.

The LA Lakers have been set as a heavy –950 favorite to win this best of 7 Western conference opening round playoff series with the Oklahoma City Thunder returning +650 to pull off the upset series win. The Lakers won the season series 3-1 this year. In the two meetings in LA the Lakers were 2-0 straight up. They met on November 22nd at Staples Center and it was the Lakers with the 101-85 victory as 11 point betting favorites. The Lakers defense rose allowing the Thunder just 37.2% shooting and only 3 of 23 from three. Kobe Bryant had 26 points on 11 of 23 shooting. Andrew Bynum was effective with 25 points on 9 of 11 from the field. Kevin Durant had just 19 points in defeat on 8 of 20 from the field. Their second meeting in LA on December 22nd resulted in a 111-108 home victory as 10-point favorites. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 40 points in victory on 14 of 26 from the field.

Kobe Bryant who registered 27 points per game average led the Lakers in scoring this season. He has been sporting a broken finger on his shooting hand for much of the season and missed 9 games this season. Kobe has played only 1 game since April 4th. In 4 games versus Oklahoma City this season Bryant has averaged 27 points on 46.3% shooting. Pau Gasol was second in scoring on the team with 18.3 points a game. In three games against the Thunder Gasol has averaged just 12 points a game on 39.4% shooting and 8 rebounds. Andrew Bynum was bothered by an Achilles injury that forced the big man to miss the Lakers final 13 games. Bynum is scheduled to return to the lineup for game 1 on Sunday.

Oklahoma City is a very good rebounding team averaging 43.5 boards a game. They also shoot at a higher percentage hitting 46.2% of their shots to the Lakers 45.7%. Kevin Durant led the league in scoring this season with 30.1 points per game average. In his four games against the Lakers it was Durant averaging 25.8 points a game. Four of the Thunder’s 5 starters played in all 82 games this season including Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. The second year player Westbrook was second in scoring for the Thunder this season with 16.1 points a game average. In his four games against the Lakers the Thunder guard averaged 17.5 points a game and 8.3 assists. Westbrook could be a very difficult assignment for the Lakers as they attend to Kevin Durant.

Trend: Oklahoma City Thunder is 5-0 to the over in their past 5 road games

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