Friday NBA Opening Odds
(The Spread) – A total of 10 games make Friday night’s NBA schedule a busy one. Continue reading for opening odds, spreads and totals for January 21, 2011 in the NBA.
Just when it seemed like the Los Angeles Lakers were clicking on all cylinders and ready to perhaps make a charge at San Antonio for the best record in the Western Conference, instead they took a step backwards Wednesday as it lost at previously reeling Dallas 109-100.
The Lakers will attempt to right the ship tonight as they play another road game, this time a 10:30PM EST affair at the Denver Nuggets. Oddsmakers and online sports book Sportsbook.com have made Los Angeles a 1-point favorite and the over-under is listed at 213.
Prior to the loss at Dallas, the Lakers had won eight of their last nine games and are still the second-best team record-wise in the Western Conference at 31-13. Denver is 24-17 and attempting to regroup somewhat after the news that New Jersey is no longer interested in the proposed megadeal to send Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony to the Nets. Anthony has not let the trade rumors play a role in his effort on the court as he is coming off a 35-point performance in a 112-107 victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder.
According to the latest trends, Denver is 9-6 against the spread versus the Lakers over the past three seasons. The Nuggets have a stellar 19-4 home record this season, while Los Angeles is a solid 14-8 on the road.
Kobe Bryant continues to lead the Lakers offensively with a 25.1 scoring average. He had 21 points and 10 assists Wednesday in the loss to the Mavericks.
Other games in the NBA Friday include the New York Knicks (22-19) at the aforementioned San Antonio Spurs (36-6), holders of the best record in the NBA. The game can be seen at 8:00PM EST on ESPN prior to the Lakers-Nuggets showdown. San Antonio is a 9-point favorite with an under-under set at 212.5.
The Boston Celtics are -5.5 point favorites against the Utah Jazz at 7:30PM EST. The over-under is set at 194.5. New Orleans travels to Atlanta for a 7:30PM EST tip. Atlanta is a 4-point favorite, while the over-under is 186.5.
For a complete list of opening odds, point spreads and over/under totals for Friday’s NBA action, see below.
801 Detroit Pistons +2 (190.5)
802 New Jersey Nets -2
803 Toronto Raptors +12 (204.5)
804 Orlando Magic -12
805 New Orleans Hornets +4 (186.5)
806 Atlanta Hawks -4
807 Utah Jazz +5.5 (194.5)
808 Boston Celtics -5.5
811 Phoenix Suns +1 (213)
812 Washington Wizards -1
813 Houston Rockets +4 (204)
814 Memphis Grizzlies -4
815 New York Knicks +9 (212.5)
816 San Antonio Spurs -9
817 Los Angeles Lakers -1 (213)
818 Denver Nuggets +1
819 Sacramento Kings +7 (215.5)
820 Golden State Warriors -7
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