Lakers vs Suns NBA Odds

Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers have their game faces on and the Phoenix Suns are looking to re-discover a missing defense so they can avoid going down 2-0 before heading back to the desert.

The Lakers lead by as many as 30 points in their Western Conference championship opening game, winning 128-107.

The NBA Odds makers have Kobe and his team of assassins favored by -7 points over Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns. The game total is 216 points.

• Location: Staples Center, Los Angeles CA
• Game Time: 9:00 pm
• TV: TNT

NBA Betting Odds:

Phoenix Suns +7 +265

Los Angeles Lakers -7 -325

Game Total 216

The Lakers dominated from start to finish in game one, it was a the Championship Lakers on full display, Kobe scored 40 points and Lamar Odom added 19 points and 19 rebounds which was a career high for Mr. Kardashian. It was a beat down of epic proportions and has everyone riding the Lakers bandwagon but tonight, I think there is enough statistical evidence to back the Suns in game two.

Statistically speaking, the Suns are 24-6 against the spread versus teams, like LA, that fail to force more than 13 turnovers a game. So as long as the Suns can control the ball and avoid the costly turnovers that haunted them in game one, they will win.

Phoenix is 31-13 ATS on the season and an even better 22-7 ATS in the second half when an opponent doesn’t get to the line more than 21 times a game, which the Lakers don’t do. If the Suns can avoid foul trouble, they will win the game.

Those stats are obvious to any basketball fan; if you control the ball and avoid sending your opponent to the line, you’ll give yourself the best chance at winning.

What the Suns will have to do to make this win happen is get more from their bigs; Channing Frye was ineffective coming off the bench, Frye was missing his shots terribly.

His replacement in the starting lineup Robin Lopez had been out of action for over a month and while he performed as well as a guy who had been out of action for over a month, the Suns will need more from him. Amar’e Stoudemire has gone on the record saying Lamar Odom’s performance in game was lucky,”I’m not giving him no hype right now,” Stoudemire said.

”He had a lucky game in Game 1.” I think it was lucky that Stoudemire was having a below average game. He’ll need to step up his game and act like a player looking for a max contract in July.

I like the Suns to win tonight by 2 points but even if they don’t they shouldn’t have any trouble covering the spread, this team is too mature and too proud to let themselves get blown out again. Look for a monster game from Stoudemire and the Suns forcing turnovers rather than committing them.