The Los Angeles Lakers will end their seven game road swing today with a stop at the AmericanAirlines Arena in Miami, Florida. Start time in today’s clash between the Lakers and defending champion Heat is set for 3:30pm ET on ABC. The latest NBA Sunday betting odds are favoring Miami at -8 against the spread while the game total is presently set at 204 points.
The Lakers season has been a disastrous one thus far with injuries, a lack of chemistry, and changes in leadership all serving to spoil what many believed would be an outstanding 2012-2013 campaign. However, despite Los Angeles many troubles, the team has shown some signs of life in recent weeks.
The Lakers have won seven of their last nine games and they closed to within three of the break even point on Friday night with a dramatic, come from behind win and cover at Charlotte.
Los Angeles, which got shellacked 116-95 at Boston on Thursday, trailed 41-53 at the half, but a 31-15 fourth quarter helped Kobe Bryant and company seal their 24th win of the season. Bryant finished the game with 20 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds while the much maligned Dwight Howard posted 12 points, 11 rebounds, and three blocks.
Obviously the Lakers task gets considerably more difficult this afternoon with the Heat on tap, but Miami, while leading the Southeast by seven games, has not been immune to the occasional poor performance.
The Heat, a 21-3 home team, do ride a four game winning streak into today’s game; however, not all of those wins were overly impressive. Miami did whip the Clippers 111-89 on Friday, but the two games prior it failed to cover against the visiting Bobcats and Rockets. LeBron James and his cohorts have also been a bit overvalued as a home team of late as they are just 3-5 opposite the number in their last eight games as a home favorite.
Conversely, the Lakers are 4-2 against the spread in their last six games as a road dog with a spread between 8 and 10.5 points.
Free Pick: Take the Lakers +8.
Los Angeles Lakers at Miami Heat NBA Odds:
Los Angeles Lakers +8 (-110), Over 204 (-110)
Miami Heat -8 (-110), Under 204 (-110)
NBA Free Picks: Los Angeles Lakers at Miami Heat Betting
What NBA bettors need to know about Los Angeles Lakers at Miami Heat on Sunday (2/10/13) - a free pick from Pregame.com's Vegas Runner, with host Maro D'Angelo.
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