Last Updated on May 19, 2009 12:16 am by Anthony Rome
The Western Conference Finals kick off Tuesday night in Los Angeles when Kobe Bryant and the Lakers take on Chauncey Billups and the Denver Nuggets.
Oddsmakers from online sports book SPORTSBETTING.COM have made the Lakers –6.5 point favorites in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. The over/under total for Tuesday night’s game is 215.
The Lakers are 31-19 against the spread versus the Nuggets since 1996 and 40-13 straight up against Denver since 1996. Los Angeles is also 18-6 against the number versus the Nuggets since 1996 and 7-1 against the spread vs. Denver over the last three seasons.
The Nuggets are more rested than the Lakers heading into Game 1, but sometimes rest can be an overrated factor when trying to handicap a game. Los Angeles is solid against the number against Denver over the last three seasons and shouldn’t have any rest after wrapping up an exciting series with the Houston Rockets on Sunday.
Our free pick for this game is the Lakers –6.5. The Nuggets have played extremely well and should make a series out of this one – if not win it. But we think Denver will be slow out of the gates on the road and the Lakers will cruise.
Did you like this article? Subscribe to our Basketball news feed for the fastest updates delivered right to you – Click here to Subscribe
Posted: 5/19/09 12:20PM ET