Lakers Magic Odds - Orlando needs "Magic" from guards to win Game 3
Guard play has been critical to Orlando’s sports betting odds all season long, but the Magic guards fell way short of expectations in the first two games of the series. Game 3 goes Tuesday night in Orlando’s Amway Arena, and a trip home will be exactly what the doctor ordered for the struggling Magic, who are favored in your offshore sportsbook.
Lakers Magic Odds: Magic -4 for Game 3
- Magic guards need to hit some shots
- Orlando can’t afford 20 turnovers
- Bryant should lead the way for Lakers
Courtney Lee and Rafer Alston combined for 13 points in Game 1, and they were even worse in Game 2’s 101-96 overtime loss, going 2-of-11 for six points. Lee missed an easy layup at the end of regulation that would have given the Magic a much-needed victory, which sums up the Orlando guard play over the first two games of the series. Rashard Lewis dropped 34 points to the Magic in Game 2, while Hedo Turkoglu added 22 for Orlando, who had an outlandish 20 turnovers.
Kobe Bryant had 29 points to pace the Lakers’ attack, while Pau Gasol notched 24 points and 10 boards, doing a decent job on the bigger Dwight Howard in the process. Lamar Odom came off the bench to score 19 points, which was more than the entire Orlando bench combined. This made up for the ineffectiveness of Andrew Bynum, but the Lakers have not been getting anything from their young center during this postseason run, so he won’t make much of a difference if you’re betting online.
Lakers Magic odds are backing Orlando by four points at home, where they beat Los Angeles 106-103 back in December. The Magic have won seven of their nine home games during the playoffs, while the Lakers have taken half of their eight games on the road. Orlando’s guards slipped under the bright lights of L.A., but they should play much better at home in front of their fans in Game 3. The Lakers have been known to take their foot off the gas a bit on the road, and that, coming with improved play by the Orlando guards, will be their NBA Finals odds downfall on Tuesday.
Lakers Magic odds pick: Orlando
Craig Parsons is an avid sports fan, but his true love has always been basketball. Too short to realize his dream of playing in the NBA, he did the next best thing: sports betting and covering basketball for a living. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
