So much for the Nuggets hot finish to the regular season. Denver finds itself on the brink of elimination tonight when it faces the Lakers in a Game 5 playoff battle at the STAPLES Center. This evening’s potential series decider is scheduled for a 10:30pm ET tip on TNT. The latest NBA Odds have Los Angeles listed as a -6 against the spread home favorite; the Over/Under is set at 199.5 points.
There were a number of questions surrounding the Lakers when the postseason got underway, but through four playoffs games Kobe Bryant and company have looked focused and formidable. They continued their run on Sunday with a 92-88 win at the Pepsi Center.
Neither to lit it up from the field in the back and forth struggle (both teams shot 45.3 percent on 86 field goal attempts), but the Lakers were able to do slightly more damage from beyond the arc, connecting on five three pointers to the Nuggets three. Los Angeles, which missed nine of its 18 free throw attempts, also controlled the glass, scoring a 48 to 38 rebound advantage.
Bryant led the Lakers with 22 points, eight rebounds, and six assists; bigs Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol combined for 32 points, 16 rebounds, and four blocks. Jordan Hill posted an 12 point, 11 rebound in 23 minutes of the bench for Los Angeles. Only two Denver starters reached double figures in scoring (Danilio Gallinari – 20, Ty Lawson – 11).
Sunday’s game marked the Lakers fifth win in their last six games against the Nuggets. Los Angeles is also 5-1 in its last six games opposite Denver at the STAPLES Center, beating George Karl’s squad by an average of 6.8 points per game.
Despite those ugly numbers, Denver has performed particularly well against this evening’s game totals, going 9-1 against the spread (5-5 straight up) in its last 10 games as a road dog with a total between 195 and 200 points.
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2012 NBA Playoff Odds Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers Game 4: Provided by TopBet.com
Denver Nuggets +6 (-110), Over 199.5 (-110), +230 (Moneyline)
Los Angeles Lakers -6 (-110), Under 199.5 (-110), -270 (Moneyline)
