NBA Finals Odds - Lakers will bounce back in Game 4
NBA Finals odds for Game 4’s contest on Thursday night have the Los Angeles Lakers as a 2.5-point underdog. As solidly as Orlando played in Game 3, the Lakers still had a chance to win, which should be a huge boost of confidence for Laker fans who bet on sports. The Lakers shot themselves in the foot, but they’ll fire away on the Magic in Game 4.
NBA Finals odds – Magic -2.5 for Game 4
- Magic won’t shoot 62.5% again
- Lakers will be better at the foul line
- Bryant to go into “Black Mamba” mode
The Lakers missed 10 of their 26 free throws in Game 3’s 108-104 loss, and five of those misses came from Kobe Bryant, who is shooting 87% from the line, which has been well-noted by NBA betting players. Bryant scored a game-high 31 points, but 21 of those came in the first half, and along with his missed foul shots, he had a critical turnover in the final 30 seconds that ultimately decided the game. Pau Gasol had 23 points while Trevor Ariza added 13 for the Lakers, who out-rebounded the Magic on the offensive glass by an 11-5 margin, but that was their only chance to get boards when Orlando was as hot as they were.
The Magic shot a Finals-record 62.5% from the field, including an extraordinary 75% in the first half, and the key was their guard play, which finally stepped up after a horrible opening in Los Angeles. Rafer Alston hit eight of his 12 attempts and scored 20 points, while Mickael Pietrus came off the bench to notch 18 points. Rashard Lewis and Dwight Howard led the Magic with 21 points each, but the play of Alston in particular threw the Lakers off, and led to a lot of open shots for the Magic.
Offshore sportsbook odds made the Lakers a 6.5-point underdog in Game 3 but only 2.5 points in Game 4, and the reason is this: Orlando did everything they were supposed to and they shot the lights out of Amway Arena, yet they still only won by four, which could have been a loss if the Lakers had hit their foul shots. We knew adrenaline and being back home would power the Magic, but the Lakers took Orlando’s best shots and then some and still came out alright. Bryant was bitter after making a lot of uncharacteristic mistakes in Game 3, and you can bet that he’ll play better in Game 4. The Lakers’ supporting cast also played better than we thought, even though Orlando was on fire from the field. The Magic won’t shoot like that again, not in Game 4, anyway.
NBA Finals odds pick: Lakers
For more sports betting lines and props during the Finals, head to the BetOnline.com sportsbook.
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.
