Thursday, May 17th, 2012
The LA Lakers will hit the road for the first time this year as they play the Phoenix Suns in a late night NBA pro basketball game on Friday.
Tip time from Phoenix is set for 10:30PM Eastern Time with national television coverage provided by ESPN.
The betting odds came out in this game and it was the road team LA Lakers set as 4 point favorites with an over under hung at 212 points.
Early money from the wagering public has come on the road club as the LA Lakers have been bet up to a 5 point favorite. The total saw movement downward to 210 points.
LA Lakers money line supporters will lay -220 odds with the home underdog Phoenix Suns bringing back +180 odds to win outright without the aid of taking the points.
The LA Lakers travels to Phoenix with an overall record of 1-0 on the season.
The team is coming off a come from behind 112-110 victory against the Houston Rockets as a 6 ½ point betting favorite. The game flew well over the closing total of 194 points.
The Lakers were able to hit on only 41.7% of their shots and gave up 41.8% to their opposition. Without Andrew Bynum in the lineup the Lakers lost the rebounding battle by a 53-44 margin. The Lakers forced 20 Rockets turnovers in victory.
Kobe Bryant in his season debut was able to hit on 8 of 20 shots for 27 points. He got to the free throw line 12 times and made 11.
Center Pau Gasol led the Lakers with 29 points on 11 of 23 shooting and 11 rebounds.
Reserve guard Steve Blake had a good debut with his new team as he made 3 of 4 from the three point line and a key shot down the stretch for 10 points in over 21 minutes.
The Lakers backcourt defense is an issue as both Aaron Brooks and Kevin Martin combined for 50 of the Rockets 110 points.
The team will once again play without center Andrew Bynum who is recovering from off season knee surgery.
These teams met in the Western conference finals last season and it was the Lakers winning the series in six games. The Lakers earned the series clincher in Phoenix in a 111-103 victory as a 1 ½ point road underdog in game 6.
The Phoenix Suns enters this contest with a 1-1 record on the season.
In their season opener on Tuesday the club dropped a 106-92 decision to the Portland Trailblazers as a 6 ½ point road underdog.
The Suns will be playing the back end of a back to back tonight.
They are coming off a 110-94 road victory against the Utah Jazz last night as a 7 ½ point underdog.
Phoenix enjoyed a good shooting night hitting on 46.2% of their shots and allowed only 42.9% to their opponent.
The Suns were able to get to the free throw line 34 times in victory.
Guard Steve Nash hit on 6 of 10 from the field for 18 points and 5 assists.
Hakim Warrick was solid off the bench with 18 points on 6 of 11 from the field and 6 of 7 from the free throw line.
Trend: Phoenix Suns are 3-1 ATS in their past 4 meetings.
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Tags: betting, espn tv, friday, la lakers, nba, october 29th 2010, Odds, phoenix suns, pick, preview, pro basketball
