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This free NBA pick for Sunday April 18, 2010 is courtesy of our friends at Pregame.com. Get all the latest free picks and game analyses here.
The Los Angeles Lakers host the Oklahoma City Thunder in an exciting Western Conference Playoff matchup. The audience for this series should be large, as the war or words between each team has already begun. The Lakers are 7.5 favorites, with a total of 197 points expected tonight. ABC will broadcast the game at 3:00 EDT today.
The defending NBA Champions appear to have their work cut out for them in the very 1st Round of the playoffs. The Lakers certainly aren't playing their best basketball right now, and they are going up against a young, upstart team in the Thunder. The war of words have already begun, as Coach Jackson tries to mentally sabotage Kevin Durant and the Thunder. The Lakers enter the postseason with a record of 57-25 SU and 33-46-3 ATS this season. Los Angeles was an impressive 34-7 SU and 16-24 ATS in home games this year. The Lakers were 29-38 ATS as the listed favorite this season, including 4-6 as a home favorite between 6.5 and 9 PTS. G Kobe Bryant missed 4 of the last 5 regular season games, while C Andrew Bynum missed the final 13 games. Both are now healthy, and both will be vital in the success of the Lakers in this particular series. Bryant averaged more than 32 PPG in 3 of the 4 meetings against the Thunder while Bynum averaged nearly 20 PPG against the Thunder this year.
The Lakers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games as a home favorite. The Under is 18-6 in the Lakers last 24 playoff games as the listed favorite. Center Andrew Bynum is finally healthy, as he has recovered from his achilles injury. Forward Ron Artest is listed as probable with a slight ankle injury.
Oklahoma City is very excited to be in the playoffs this year. The entire city and everyone in the Thunder organization are proud of their accomplishment, considering how difficult the Western Conference has been this year. The Thunder have made it back to the postseason for the 1st time since they moved from Seattle. Oklahoma City finished the regular season with a 50-32 SU and 48-34 ATS overall record this year. The Thunder lost 3 of the 4 games against the Lakers this season, yet they still remain a confident group. Perhaps its because 2 of those losses to the Lakers came by 3 PTS this season. The Thunder are 23-18 SU and 26-15 ATS on the road this season, easily one of the best road records in the NBA this year. Oklahoma City is an impressive 19-12 ATS as the listed underdog this season, including 6-2 ATS as a road underdog of 6.5 to 9 PTS. F Kevin Durant was the leading scorer this season in the NBA, as he averaged 30.1 PPG. Durant was held in check in the 4 meetings with the Lakers this season as he only averaged 25.8 PPG.
The Thunder are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games as the listed road underdog. The Over is 5-0 in the Thunder's last 5 games as the listed road underdog. Center Nedad Krstic has a banged up knee and is listed as probable this afternoon.
Pregame.com projects the final score to be 105-101 in favor of the Los Angeles Lakers. The Over 197 is the Total of the Day!
Projected Score: 101
