Lakers vs. Magic Line – January 20
Carrie Stroup here with your Lakers vs. Magic line where Orlando was a -4.5 favorite. Bet this game here at Sportsbook.com and receive a FREE $250 based on initial deposit. I also have the line on tonight’s Timberwolves vs. Clippers game.
LOS ANGELES LAKERS (10-6) at ORLANDO MAGIC (10-4)
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Orlando -4.5 & 182
Opening Line & Total: Magic -4.5 & 182.5
The Lakers try to cure their season-long road frustration when they visit Orlando on Friday night.
L.A. is just 1-5 (SU and ATS) away from home this season after losing by 11 points in Miami on Thursday. The Lakers have also lost their past three regular-season trips to Orlando including an ugly 89-75 defeat last season when it shot 39.3% FG and made just 2-of-16 three-pointers. But the Magic haven’t been stellar at home lately, going 1-4 ATS (3-2 SU) in their past five games at Amway Center. This includes an 85-83 loss to the Spurs on Wednesday when they shot 33.3% from the floor. Orlando will also be short-handed on Friday, as SG Jason Richardson (knee) is out and both forwards Hedo Turkoglu (back) and Glen Davis (personal) are questionable. It’s unclear who would fill the scoring void of this trio that has combined to score 33.7 PPG, which is 35% of the Magic offense. The Lakers have played too well on the defensive end to allow a bunch of points to this thinned-out roster.
L.A. has played tremendous defense this season, limiting opponents to 89.4 PPG and 41.1% FG, ranking among the top-5 in the NBA in both categories. However, those numbers jump significantly on the road (98.8 PPG, 43.8% FG). SG Kobe Bryant (NBA-best 30.4 PPG) has led the offense all year, but he’s had two bad games in a row, scoring just 19.0 PPG on 15-of-43 FG (34.9%). And although he carries a 25.0 PPG lifetime versus Orlando, Bryant is averaging just 19.5 PPG on 36.0% FG in the past two seasons (four meetings).
But this game should be decided in the paint where the Lakers’ big-men duo of Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum go up against Dwight Howard who leads the NBA in rebounds (15.6 RPG) and ranks fourth in the league with 2.43 blocks per game. Gasol and Bynum both played well in Thursday’s loss to Miami, combining for 41 points and 20 rebounds.
Howard’s offense has been inconsistent all year, as he has scored 5, 13, 45, 8, 25 and 24 points in his past six games. But he tallied 24 points and 25 rebounds on Wednesday, his fourth 20-20 game this season. Against the Lakers, he carries decent career marks of 17.2 PPG and 11.2 RPG, but last year Howard burned L.A. for 26.5 PPG (70.0% FG) and 14.0 RPG. But even if Howard is efficient against the Lakers big men, Orlando’s outside shooters have to be much more accurate than they were in Wednesday’s OT loss to San Antonio. Turkoglu was certainly missed in that game, as the team shot 4-of-21 on threes and starters not named Dwight Howard made just 10-of-44 shots (22.7% FG). PG Jameer Nelson (2-of-16 FG, 0-4 on threes) and PF Ryan Anderson (3-of-13 FG, 1-of-6 on threes) were the biggest bricklayers.
MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES (6-8) at LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS (8-4)
Sportsbook.com Line & Total: Los Angeles -5 & 190.5
Opening Line & Total: Clippers -5.5 & 188.5
The new-look Clippers look to continue their dominance at home when they host Minnesota Friday night.
L.A. has won seven in a row SU (6-1 ATS) at the Staples Center. The Clippers could be without PG Chris Paul, who’s questionable with a hamstring injury, for a fourth straight game, but they’ve won and covered in both their home games without him and their backcourt has gotten a boost from the return of Mo Williams.
The Clippers have been able to get by without Paul thanks to their deep rotation at guard. In Wednesday’s win over Dallas, Williams (12.1 PPG, 51.7% shooting from the field) returned from a foot injury to score 26 off the bench on 11-for-15 shooting. He’s also helping make up for the spotty shooting of Chauncey Billups (16.5 PPG, but 34.9% shooting) and Randy Foye (6.9 PPG on 33.3% shooting). Of course, the offense continues to be built around PF Blake Griffin (21.3 PPG, 11.8 RPG) who had 14 points and 17 rebounds in the win over the Mavericks.
Minnesota is playing well of late, having won three of four (SU and ATS) since moving rookie PG Ricky Rubio (10.7 PPG, 8.3 APG) into the starting lineup. He’s averaging 12.0 PPG, 9.3 APG and 4.0 SPG since moving into the starting five, and has an plus/minus per game of +5.2, tops on the Timberwolves.
PF Kevin Love (25.2 PPG, 14.5 RPG) is still the centerpiece. He has gone for 30+ points and 11+ rebounds in three of the past four games. But he had a rough time against Griffin and the Clippers last year, averaging 20.0 PPG and 13.3 RPG, but posting an average plus/minus of -11.5 over four games while Griffin scored at will (26.5 PPG, 10.8 RPG).
Minnesota will be without SF Michael Beasley (12.9 PPG, 7.0 RPG) again. He’s missed their last seven games with a sprained foot, and the T-Wolves are 4-3 SU and ATS without him.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
