NBA Spreads: Los Angeles Lakers at Indiana Pacers
Written by Steve Janus - Google +
The Los Angeles Lakers are starting to look more like the defending champions of late, but face a difficult task when they go on the road to take on the Indiana Pacers tonight. The Lakers have won five of six since dropping four straight, and will look to get revenge on the Pacers, after Indiana beat the Lakers on their home court 95-92 during their four game slump. Los Angeles comes into the game off a 103-89 win over the Wizards last night, it was their second win over Washington in their last five games. The Pacers are just 3-5 since beating the Lakers back on Nov. 23, including two straight losses to Atlanta and Chicago where they really struggled on the offensive end of the floor. Checking out the NBA spreads for tonight’s game, the oddsmakers have the Lakers favored by just 4.5-points over the Pacers on the road.
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The Lakers were dominated inside by the Pacers in the first matchup. Roy Hibbert scored 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, while the Pacers held Pau Gasol to just 13 points on 5-15 shooting. Center Andrew Bynum made his season debut for the Lakers last night against the Wizards, scoring seven points in 17 minutes, and he figures to play a huge role in tonight’s game. Bynum has averaged 20 points in six games against the Pacers.
Kobe Bryant scored a season-high 41 points against the Pacers, but was just 14-33 from the field. At that point the Lakers weren’t playing good basketball, and Bryant was simply trying to do to much on the offensive end. I expect the Lakers to get off to a much better start tonight, which will allow Bryant to let everyone else get involved instead of him simply running the show.
Danny Granger finished with 18 points against the Lakers, but was forced to sit out the Pacers last game against the Bulls with a sprained left ankle. Granger is expected to return to the lineup tonight, but it’s hard to imagine him having a huge game playing at less than 100%. The Pacers scored just 73 points against the Bulls on Monday night without Granger, so its easy to see what kind of impact he can have on this game.
Bryant and the Lakers take it personally when a team beats them on their home court, and you can expect the Lakers best effort tonight. Los Angeles is 8-5 on the road this season, while the Pacers are barely over .500 at home going just 6-5 in their first 11 games at Conseco Fieldhouse.
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