The Los Angeles Lakers, who are clinging desperately to the final Western Conference playoff spot, face the reeling Milwaukee Bucks tonight in an East versus West showdown at the BMO Harris Bradley Center. This evening’s meeting between the Lakers and Bucks has a scheduled start time of 8:00pm ET. The latest NBA Odds have Los Angeles favored at -1.5 against the spread; the Over/Under is set at 209 points.
The Lakers kept the ninth place Utah Jazz a game back in the Western Conference standings when they knocked off the Timberwolves 120-117 last night in Minnesota. The win, which snapped a three game losing streak for Los Angeles, featured big offensive night from several Lakers.
Kobe Bryant led L.A. with 31 points while Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol combined for 42 points on 17-of-25 shootings. The duo also amassed 25 rebounds, seven steals, and seven blocked shots.
Los Angeles, now 37-35 overall and 14-23 on the road, has, as mentioned, a one game lead over the Jazz and 1.5 games edge on the Mavericks in the Western Conference playoff race.
The free falling Bucks are more secure in their playoff positioning, holding a 7.5 games advantage on the ninth place 76ers, but they are losing out on an opportunity to avoid a first round meeting with the Miami Heat.
Milwaukee lost its fourth straight game last night, falling 100-92 at Philadelphia to drop to 34-36 overall. The Bucks offense has been the major culprit in the team’s recent slide; Milwaukee is averaging a meager 89.8 points per game in its last four outings. That could change tonight, though, with the more offensive minded Lakers in town.
Los Angeles won the first and only meeting between these two squads this season, taking out Milwaukee 104-88 at the STAPLES Center on January 15th.
Notable Trends: The Bucks are 5-2 both straight up and against the spread over the last three seasons playing as a Pick to +3 home dog coming off a road loss.
Los Angeles Lakers vs Milwaukee Bucks NBA Odds:
Los Angeles Lakers -1.5 (-110), Over 209 (-110)
Milwaukee Bucks +1.5 (-110), Under 209 (-110)
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