NBA Betting – Lakers Have Struggled Against Strongest Teams, Face New Orleans

NBA betting followers realizes that the Los Angeles Lakers have struggled putting wins on the board against some of the league’s strongest teams. On Saturday night they will square off against one of those teams, the New Orleans Saints, in NBA action that begins at 8 PM ET at the New Orleans Arena. In this contest, the Lakers, who average 103 points a game, encounter the New Orleans defense, which has permitted fewer points than anyone in the league.

Los Angeles Lakers (34-16 SU, 21-29 ATS) at New Orleans Hornets (32-19 SU, 26-23-2 ATS)
Live at New Orleans Arena
New Orleans, LA
Saturday, February 5 — 8 PM ET

NBA Betting Odds:  TBA

The Lakers are perhaps still reeling form that beating they too at the hands of the Boston Celtics last Sunday. And when we say "beating," they took it in the physical sense, allowing the Celts a lot of easy baskets, as they shot 60%. Offensively, the Lakers have shot much better of late, and they just need to be more stingy on the stop end to improve their NBA betting record of 21-29 ATS.

Los Angeles comes off a Thursday loss to the San Antonio Spurs, where they shot below 43% but came a split second away from chalking up a win. It was a tip-in by Antonio McDyess that got them just before the buzzer. While they don’t take a lot of momentum into the Crescent City, they’ve got a recent track record of success against this Hornets club.

Here are some of the trends that involve NBA betting on this matchup:

·       Los Angeles has covered three of its last eleven games
·       Los Angeles has covered one of its last five road games
·       New Orleans has won eleven of its last 14 games SU
·       New Orleans has covered one of its last six games
·       New Orleans has played five of its last eight games UNDER the total
·       Los Angeles has won five of the last six meetings SU
·       New Orleans has covered five of the last seven meetings
·       Six of the last seven meetings have gone OVER the total

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The Lakers have emerged victorious both times these teams have met, but these teams have split the two meetings as far as the NBA betting odds are concerned. They have also covered five of the last seven times they have gone to New Orleans. That may not mean a lot, but the absence of Emeka Okafor, who was having his best season yet (10.1 rebounds, 59% shooting) matters a lot. And so does the injury to Trevor Ariza, who is out indefinitely with a sprained ankle. That’s two important defensive components right there. A third one, Chris Paul, who leads the league in steals, was carried off the court on Wednesday night with an ankle injury, although he should be ready to go.

The last four meetings between these teams have gone over the total, which tells us the Lakers have some real influence over the pace. And since we know that New Orleans likes to slow things down, that plays against the Hornets here. As their depth depletes, this points to a Laker win that might be easier than expected. We’d lay points in NBA betting.

JAY’S PLAY:  L.A. LAKERS BY 10

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