Looking at the opening lines for this weekend’s NBA playoff action, it’s clear that bettors will have some tough decisions to make if they’re going to pad their bankrolls at BetJamaica.com.
Game 3 between the Los Angeles Lakers and Utah Jazz goes Friday night, with the Lakers leading the best-of-seven Western Conference semifinals series 2-0.
BetJamaica has the Jazz as 4 ½-point home favorites for the contest, with the total listed at 215. The Lakers head into the game on an 8-0 SU and ATS winning streak after Wednesday night’s 120-110 payday over the Jazz, who have had no answer for Kobe Bryant in the series.
Fresh off being awarded the MVP trophy from NBA commissioner David Stern, Bryant went for 34 points, eight rebounds, and six assists to lead Los Angeles to the Game 2 win as 6 ½-point home favorites.
Lakers bettors benefited from the lackluster play of Utah’s Carlos Boozer, who had only 10 points and five boards on Wednesday night. Jazz backers are hoping that Boozer finds his game as the series shifts back to Salt Lake City, where the Jazz were 37-4 straight up during the regular season.
Speaking of star players who have to step up, the Cleveland Cavaliers need better play from LeBron James if they’re going to win Game 3 of their series with the Boston Celtics on Saturday night.
LeBron scored 21 points in Thursday night’s 89-73 loss as 8 ½-point road underdogs, but he was only 6-of-24 from the floor. The Celtics are doubling James at every opportunity, and if LeBron can’t find a way to get more open looks, it will be the end of the road for Cavs backers.
The good news is the underdog is 7-1-1 ATS in the last nine meetings between the Cavaliers and Celtics. BetJamaica oddsmakers have yet to set a line for Game 3, but rest assured that Cleveland will be dogged despite playing their first home game of the series.
Big Ben Wallace is questionable for Saturday night after taking a severe allergic reaction early in Game 2. If Wallace sits, that will leave the Cavaliers with fewer options to defend Kevin Garnett, who had 28 points in Game 1 and 13 points and 12 rebounds in Thursday night’s Game 2.
The Celtics also received solid performances from Paul Pierce and Ray Allen on Thursday, after the All-Stars combined for five points in Game 1. Pierce led Beantown with 19 points, while Allen netted 16 points in the home payday.
Short of a solid performance, the Detroit Pistons are simply hoping to have point guard Chauncey Billups in the lineup for Game 4 against the Orlando Magic in the early game on Saturday.
Billups left Game 3 in the first quarter with a strained hamstring, and didn’t return as the Magic rolled to a 111-86 win. Rashard Lewis went for 33 points, six boards, and five dimes for Orlando, who won while giving five points to Detroit.
Magic bettors were bolstered by another strong performance from Dwight Howard, who had 20 points, 12 rebounds, and six blocks in Game 3. Superman also proved to be the perfect kryptonite for Rasheed Wallace, who was held to 11 points on 4-of-15 shooting on Wednesday night.
BetJamaica.com likes the Magic to take Game 4 and even up the Eastern Conference semifinal series, listing Orlando as 4 ½-point home favorites for the contest. Totals bettors should take note of a strong over trend between the teams, as Orlando and Detroit have played over in nine of their last 12 meetings. This includes Game 2 and Game 3 of this series, as oddsmakers continue to list totals at or below 190 points for the Magic and Pistons.