NBA Playoffs: Orlando @ Boston, Houston @ L.A. odds

Basketball fans are already putting heavy dents in their couches with the 2009 NBA Playoffs season heating up - two games tonight and we will take a look at the latest odds and stats on the four teams. Today the Lakers and Celtics both try to rebound from Game 1 losses, and the Caps look to win their third straight over the Pens. We will start with the NBA Playoffs game 2 between Orlando Magic and the Boston Celtics. Orlando is leading the series 1-0, but the Celtics will attempt to take advantage of home turf tonight and tie the series - something the odds makers believe to be very likely.

At the online sportsbook Bookmaker the Boston Celtics are sitting on -200 odds to beat Orlando in their NBA playoffs Game 2 meeting tonight, while the Orland Magic is big underdog with odds to win the game at get ahead in the series battle set at +170. The Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics point spread is posted at -4.5 points chalk the Celtics with the total predicted by Bookmaker at 189.5 points. Keep in mind that Orlando is 4-9 against the spread in its last 13 games, while the total has gone UNDER in 5 of Boston's last 6 games when playing Orlando.

Stats that may affect this NBA Playoff game: Orlando has the worst free throw percentage in the league with just 71.5, is second best in the league in three points made with 10.0 per game and ranks third in rebounds in the league at 43.3. Orlando also allows the third least field goal percentage against in the league at 43.3. Meanwhile Boston has the second best field goal percentage at 48.6, allows the third fewest points in the league at 93.4 per game and has the best field goal percentage against in the league allowing 43.1, all while ranking second in rebounds allowed in the league at 37.6.

For the next NBA Playoffs Game 2 of tonight's line-up we have one of the top favorite NBA franchises to win the NBA Championship this year, the Los Angeles Lakers, meeting with one of the underdogs, Houston Rockets. If this will turn out to be a David-Goliath scenario will become apparent tonight, after the Lakers were beaten 100-92 in the NBA playoffs series opener. It's not the end of the world, according to Lakers' star Kobe Bryant, nor it is according to the odds makers. Bookmaker has the Lakers at the whopping -700, making it almost impossible to justify a bet, but players may give the +550 underdog odds on the Houston Rockets a shot, even if it's one in the dark. The point spread on the Houston @ Los Angeles game is currently set at -10 points chalk the Lakers, which translates into an a**-whopping, considering the total over/under is at 193 points.

Published on 05/06/2009