What should be an emotional Los Angeles Lakers squad opens second half play tonight against the Boston Celtics at the STAPLES Center. This evening’s game, which takes place just two days after the passing of longtime Lakers owner Jerry Buss, has a scheduled start time of 10:30pm ET (ESPN). NBA Odds have the Lakers listed as a -7 against the spread home favorite and the Over/Under set at 194.5 points. The Celtics are getting +255 moneyline odds to score their second win of the season against Los Angeles.

The Lakers will honor Jerry Buss before tonight’s game, but their true hope is to, no doubt, show their admiration for Buss with a victory.

While Los Angeles has done less winning than usual this season, it has played better of late. The Lakers are still four games under .500 with a 25-29 overall record, but they have won eight of their last 12 games and four of their last five contests at the STAPLES Center (16-11 at home).

Their last performance in front of the home crowd was an ugly one, though, as the surging Clippers, who have assumed control of the Lakers usual spot atop the Pacific Division, handed Kobe Bryant and company a 125-101 loss. That, however, may spark a more concerted effort tonight as Los Angeles looks to wipe that game from its memory and give the grieving Buss family something to feel good about.

Boston may be just the team Los Angeles needs in order to put together an old fashioned Lakers performance. The Celtics green and white will almost certainly get the competitive rivalry juices flowing and, unfortunately for Boston, it enters this evening’s game after suffering a 97-90 loss to the Nuggets last night.

The aging Celtics did have the All-Star weekend to get some rest, but the quick turnaround is still an unwelcome scheduling development for Doc Rivers’ crew. The club’s recent history would indicate as much anyway as it is 3-12 straight up and 4-10-1 against the spread in its last 15 games as a road dog in the second of back to back games (Under was 3-11-1 in those games).

Free Pick: Take the Lakers -7.

Boston Celtics vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA Odds:

Boston Celtics +7 (-110), Over 194.5 (-110), +255 (Moneyline)

Los Angeles Lakers -7 (-110), Under 194.5 (-110), -310 (Moneyline)

NBA Free Picks: Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers Betting
What NBA bettors need to know about Boston Celtics at Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday (2/20/13) - a free pick from Pregame.com's Steve Fezzik, with Bryan Leonard.