Free NBA Picks and Odds: Orlando Magic at Los Angeles Lakers on ESPN Expert Predictions – NBA Betting Preview 3/14/11: All-star Dwight Howard will lead the Orlando Magic on the road to the Staples Center to take on big men Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum and the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night at 10:30 PM ET on ESPN. The Magic are coming off a victory and have 6 wins in their last 10 to enter the game at 42-25 – 2nd in the Southeast and 4th overall in the Eastern Conference. The Lakers are also coming off a victory and have 9 wins in their last 10 to sit at 47-20 – 1st in the Pacific but 3rd overall in the Eastern Conference.
The Lakers got a scare on Saturday when Kobe went down on his left ankle and remained on the floor in pain. “I thought I was done, like done. I was praying that when I stood up, my foot was lined up straight,” Bryant said. “I thought I dislocated it. I just walked around, let it settle in, then went back out. We were all pretty scared because it looked horrible and felt worse. When I stood up, I was happy it was still lined up. I walked around, my strength felt good. It was a little sore. But I had to stop being a chump, suck it up and go out and play.” It’s a game time decision whether he’ll play tonight. The odds makers at BetUs have the Los Angeles Lakers a -6 point favorite at home against the Orlando Magic.
The Orlando Magic is coming off a road victory 111-88 at the Phoenix Suns last night to move to 29-36-2 ATS for the season. Howard led the way with a double-double scoring 26 points and pulling down 15 boards. All five starters and 2 reserves led a balanced attack with 7 players in double figures. The total has gone UNDER in 5 of last 5 games when playing the LA Lakers and Orlando is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road. Vegas odds makers have the Orlando Magic +1100 to win the 2010-2011 NBA Championship.
The LA Lakers are coming off a 96-91 victory on the road at the Dallas Mavericks to move to 33-34 ATS for the season. Bynum led the Lakers with 22 points and 15 rebounds while Gasol chipped in 18 points, 5 boards and 3 assists. Kobe was limited to 16 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in 33 minutes due to the injury. LA Lakers are 13-2 SU in their last 15 games when playing at home against Orlando and the total has gone UNDER in 5 of the LA Lakers last 5 games when playing at home against Orlando. Vegas odds makers have the over/under for the total score at 188 points combined of the Los Angeles Lakers and Orlando Magic.
FREE PICK: Lakers -6
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MATCHUP: Orlando (42-25) at L.A. Lakers (47-20)
GAME TIME: 10:35 PM EST
TELEVISION: ESPN
Recent Magic and Lakers NBA Betting Odds Trends:
Orlando: Under is 13-4 in ORL last 17 overall.
Under is 19-7-1 in ORL last 27 vs. NBA Pacific.
Under is 15-7 in ORL last 22 games as an underdog.
L.A. Lakers: LAL are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
LAL are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games as a favorite.
Under is 6-2 in LAL last 8 vs. NBA Southeast.
Head to Head: Underdog is 11-2-1 ATS in the last 14 meetings.
Opening Vegas Odds from Las Vegas
Favorite: Lakers -6
Total: O/U 186.5
* These are the Morning Lines at Ceasars Palace in Las Vegas
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