NBA Betting Odds – Nash, Suns Need To Reclaim ‘Mojo’ in Game 3 Against Kobe, L.A.

Two-time league MVP Steve Nash and the Phoenix Suns will be in all-out ‘desperation mode’ when they host Kobe Bryant and the high-flying Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 of their Western Conference Finals showdown on Sunday at 8:30 PM ET.

The Suns will be looking to win their first game in the series while also cover the NBA betting odds for pro hops gamblers.

Sunday, May 223, 8:30 PM ET

TV: TNT

Radio: Sirius 211 XM, 212 XM

NBA Betting Odds

Lakers +2.5

(O/U) 219.5

Los Angeles Lakers (10-2 SU, 8-4 ATS, 7-5 O/U)

Phoenix Suns (8-4 SU, 8-4 ATS, 7-5 O/U)

After leading NBA gamblers to two solid ATS and O/U victories in this series so far, I am primed to help pro basketball betting buffs cash in once more with another winning wager in this series.

Los Angeles 411

LA Lakers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games when playing on the road against Phoenix

LA Lakers are 4-2 SU in their last 6 games when playing on the road against Phoenix

The Lakers pounded the Suns for the second consecutive game in this series, beating the Suns 124-112 to cover the NBA betting line as a 7.5-point home favorite to move to 2-0 SU and ATS against the Suns.

Pau Gasol scored a team-high 29 points to lead six Lakers in double figure scoring while Kobe Bryant added 21 points in the win.

Phoenix 411

Phoenix is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games when playing LA Lakers

Phoenix is 1-5 SU in their last 6 games when playing LA Lakers

The Suns got 27 points from Jason Richardson and 23 points from Grant Hill but it wasn’t enough as the team allowed L.A. to shoot a blistering 57.7 percent from the field and 56.2 percent from three-point distance.

Analysis: Let me get right to the point with my selection for this contest by simply saying I am shocked that the Suns are favored despite the fact that they are playing at home in this contest.

The fact of the matter is that the Lakers have shown they are far superior to the Suns in every area, particularly at the defensive end of the floor where the Suns’ total inability to stop running water, more or less a real live player, is laughable at best.

The Lakers have scored 128 and 124 points in consecutive games and there is just no way that the Suns can beat them by allowing that many points.

The worst part for the Suns and their backers however is the fact that Phoenix just can’t immediately turn into something they’re not. Phoenix has relied on its fantastic offense to generally run past their overmatched opponents offensively, but L.A. can score the ball just as easily as the Suns while playing much better defense.

With Lamar Odom playing absolutely fantastic basketball and Ron Artest, Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown all contributing consistently the last time out, I say L.A. cover the NBA betting odds in this contest by recording the outright road win against the desperate, but defenseless Suns.

While Phoenix has gone a discouraging 1-5 ATS in their last six games against L.A., the Lakers have gone a bankroll-boosting 8-3 ATS in their last 11 games when playing the Suns on the road and 4-2 SU in their last six road games against Phoenix.

Play Kobe Bryant and company to cover the NBA betting odds as a slight road underdog in this matchup.

Expert NBA Picks: Lakers +2.5 Points