Western Conference Showdown – Lakers vs. Magic

Denver Nuggets (53-26 SU, 44-34-1 ATS) at Los Angeles Lakers (62-16 SU, 39-38-1 ATS)

BetOnline NBA Betting Odds: L.A. LAKERS -9, Total 210

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

* DEN has won its last eight games SU

* DEN has won and covered four of its last five road games

* DEN has played four of its last five road games UNDER the total

* LA has covered two of its last six games

* LA has won nine of its last 11 games SU

* LA has played eight of its last nine games UNDER the total

* LA has covered one of its last five home games

* LA has won 10 of its last 11 home games SU

* LA has played its last seven home games UNDER the total

Also…

* LA has covered nine of the last 11 meetings

* LA has won nine of the last ten meetings SU

* The last six meetings have gone UNDER the total

* LA has won and covered the last five meetings as the home team

* Nine of the last 12 meetings in Los Angeles have gone UNDER the total

* LA has had the shooting edge in eight of the last ten meetings

* LA has made more three-pointers in eight of the last ten meetings

Denver has won eight games in a row, and during this time has been a very hot shooting club, hitting 53% or better in six of the last seven, while holding the opponent to 43% or lower in five of the last eight wins. The Nuggets have a 2.5-game lead in the Northwest Division, and the second-best record in the Western Conference. They are well behind the Lakers, who are 9.5 games in front in the West, but this game should nonetheless get L.A.’s antennae up.

That’s because the last time these teams met, it was so unpleasant. On February 27 at the Pepsi Center, the Lakers shot just 29.8% and were nearly laughed out of the Mile High City, dropping a 90-79 decision in which they were just two-for-21 from beyond the three-point arc. It would obviously be ridiculous to think that those numbers will be duplicated, but we have seen a rather disturbing trend going on with Phil Jackson’s club. The Lakers have won four of their last six games, but have hit less than 40% in three of those games, and have only won because opponents have gone cold, or have coughed the ball up all over the place.

As far as coughing the ball up, that may not be the case with Denver where Chauncey Billups is enjoying a 4.7-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio over the last six games. Carmelo Anthony, who chalked up 31 against Oklahoma City last night, has shown no signs of slowing down. Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant, who is averaging 27 points a game, has exceeded that total only three times in the last 12 games.

Los Angeles is looking for revenge and that may get them the win, although Denver is playing well enough to make this a game all the way to the end. If the Lakers do come out with intensity, however, it’s more likely to happen on the defensive end. The trends on the part of both these teams seem to points toward a low-scoring game, including the fact that the last six have gone under the total. That’s where we’ll go too. It’s UNDER the 210 points as it is posted in the BetOnline Sportsbook NBA pro basketball betting odds.

JAY’S PLAY: UNDER 210 ***

(Graded on a scale of 1-4 stars)