NBA Betting Analysis Lakers @ Hornets

The Los Angeles Lakers (22-5 SU, 11-16 ATS) are going through what for them is a rough stretch. On Tuesday night they will try to knock off one of their top competitors in the Western Conference when they visit the New Orleans Hornets (16-7 SU, 10-11-2 ATS) in NBA pro basketball sports betting action that is slated to begin at 8 PM ET at the New Orleans Arena.

BetOnline NBA Betting Odds: NEW ORLEANS -3, Total 195.5

Here are some of the NBA pro basketball sports betting trends as they relate to this matchup:

* LA has lost its last ten games ATS

* LA has won 20 of its last 25 games SU

* LA has played 11 of its last 16 games OVER the total

* LA has lost its last five road games ATS

* LA has won eight of its last 12 road games SU

* NO has won seven of its last eight games SU

* NO has played its last five games UNDER the total

* NO has won its last six home games SU

* NO has played five of its last seven home games OVER the total

Also…

* LA has won 18 of the last 25 meetings SU

* Twelve of the last 17 meetings have gone OVER the total

* Four of the last five meetings have gone UNDER the total

* LA has covered four of the last six meetings as the road tam

* LA has won 10 of the last 14 meetings SU as the road team

* Six of the last nine meetings in New Orleans have gone OVER the total

* NO has had the rebounding edge in seven of the last ten meetings

It’s the fourth game in five nights for the Lakers, who are going through one of their worst pointspread periods ever, having gone ten straight games without a cover. Last night they were laying too many points to the Memphis Grizzlies, who made quite a game of it before being turned back by nine points. The fact that L.A. had to extend itself to get that victory does not bode well for them as they head into the Big Easy, where the Hornets have won six straight games.

New Orleans point guard Chris Paul paces the NBA with over three steals a game, and also leads the circuit in assists. A key addition to the Hornets’ rotation has been James Posey, the ace reserve who was on title teams in Miami and Boston and is now third in the league in three-point percentage, at 47.4%. There is the possibility that Peja Stojakovic, who has been suffering from back spasms, could see action in this game as he said his back feels much better. After Monday’s practice, coach Byron Scott told the New Orleans Times-Picayune, "He did some shooting today, some jogging up and down the floor, on his own. He said he feels pretty good; we’ll see how he feels in the morning."

The Lakers bench is a little thinner now, as Jordan Farmar, who injured his knee last Friday against Miami, may not be back for a while, if at all. Pau Gasol, who had 15 points and seven rebounds playing against his brother Marc last night, and Lamar Odom, who scored 12 against the Grizzlies, have been sick, and this is a back-to-back situation for them.

New Orleans has now officially overtaken Houston and San Antonio for the lead in the Southwest Division. The Hornets have won seven of their last eight games. Are they ready to make their move? Maybe they are. I think we can lay the points here, and wait and see if the Lakers can get over their pointspread "schneid" anytime soon. It’s the Hornets, the three-point favorite in the BetOnline NBA pro basketball sports betting odds.

JAY’S PLAY: NEW ORLEANS -3 **

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)

(Charles Jay of http://www.ebookies.com makes his share of shots from downtown as a contributor to the BetOnline Locker Room)