The NBA Playoffs continue Monday night in Game 5 between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Oklahoma City Thunder. The NBA Playoff odds for the game have the Thunder favored by 7.5 points. The game is scheduled for a 9:30 pm start time and it will be televised live on TNT. The spread shows that bookmakers have a prediction of a win for the Thunder.

Picks: The Thunder are just one game away from reaching the Western Conference Finals. Tonight they welcome in the Lakers for Game 5 with a chance to end Los Angeles' season. The total for the game is sitting right around 192 points, so it should be a decent contest played in the upper 90s. The Lakers have been in this situation before, taking out the Nuggets in the first round in seven games. We all saw this type of series coming as the Thunder are a younger, scrappier team that arguably has more talented players as well. Kobe Bryant has had the Lakers in every game after dropping the first, and they probably SHOULD have won Game 4. The Thunder were in a 13-point, fourth-quarter deficit in that game but came back to win. In reality the Lakers probably SHOULD have won Game 2 of the series as well, but now they are in a 3-1 hole and could have their season ended tonight. Kevin Durant has grown into a great leader and might be the best overall scorer in the NBA. He has led the Thunder to the brink of the Western Conference Finals and most think Oklahoma City will be playing in the NBA Finals. What will happen tonight? Will LA find a way to keep the series continuing or will the Thunder pick up a spot in the Conference Finals again?

Picks: OKC has that killer instinct you want in a team. You know, the type of instinct Kobe possesses. The problem with the Lakers is that they aren't getting any younger and Oklahoma City has greatly improved in a few years under Durant. The Thunder pose problems for the Lakers with their style of play, although they do turn the ball over quite a bit in games they lose. There's a huge benefit for them playing at home, however, where have been an extremely good team this season. I think they'll beat LA tonight but I think the Lakers are going to hang around just because Kobe doesn't want his season to end. Thunder 93, Lakers 88

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