Magic favored Over Lakers in Must-Win Game 3

The Orlando Magic are now favored heading into Game 3 of the 2009 NBA Final against the Los Angeles Lakers by 4 points, this despite being down 0-2 in the series.

The oddsmakers at betED.com and everywhere else for that matter, have considered Orlando's recent past against the Lakers, in which they beat them both games of the regular season, and how they forced Game 2 into overtime.  Likewise, The Magic are perceived as being in "desperation mode", playing on a fertile home court where they've performed outstandingly all season long.

The Orlando Magic can either make it a series or hand the NBA Championship to the Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday night.

Facing a must-win situation, Orlando is a 4-point, -190 moneyline favorite in betED.com NBA Finals Betting Odds when they host the Lakers for Game 3 of the best-of-seven series (9 pm ET, ABC).

betED.com has the over/under total at 198.5, and also has 1^st Half NBA Lines with Orlando a 2.5-point favorite and the total at 97.5.

Los Angeles needed overtime to get past the Magic in Game 2 in LA Sunday, winning 101-96 to take a commanding 2-0 lead in the NBA Championship series.

The Magic almost won the game in regulation, as they had a chance for a victory with the game deadlocked at 88 and just 0.6 seconds left on the clock. Orlando's Hedo Turkoglu lofted an inbounds pass over Lamar Odom to a wide-open Courtney Lee. But he missed the layup and the game went to OT.

The Lakers dominated the extra frame and are now halfway to their 15th NBA championship.

LA is a near-perfect 38-1 in franchise history when they have a 2-0 series edge, however.