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BETTORS BACKING THE HOME FAVS

Can anyone stop the Cavaliers? Can the Lakers cover as big favorites after that embarrassing loss in Game 4? Can the Celtics move a step closer to the Eastern Conference Finals?

As to question #1…so far, no playoff opponent yet has shown they are even close to being able to slowdown King James and the Cavs. Chalk up another sweep as they dispatched the Hawks with ease. They laid an 84-74 win on Atlanta in Game 4, pushing as 10-point favorites.

King James and his front and backcourt are moving onto the conference finals boasting a perfect 8-0 record.

Unfortunately, none of the four teams taking to the court tonight will have the luxury of wrapping up a series. The Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic and Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Lakers see themselves tied 2-2 in their respective series.

The Magic will be in Beantown for Game 5 with most online sportsbooks listing them as 2.5-point road underdogs with the Total set at 192.

Orlando has been anything but magic against the spread in the postseason going 4-6 ATS.

Boston hasn’t been a profitable play against the line either during these playoffs going 5-5-1 ATS but Total bettors might want to take note.

The Celtics have posted a mark of 8 overs and only 3 unders in their 11 playoff games so far this season.

The Celtics have owned the Magic on home court going 15-5 ATS in their last 20 home tilts against Orlando and the two have combined for 12-8 on the Over/Under.

Looking at the playoff odds for the number of games and outcome of this series, the most likely scenario, based on those odds, is a 4-3 series win by the Celtics, which would pay out at +160. A 4-2 series win by the Magic would lead to Exact Game bettors at benefiting at +200.

Bettors are leaning to the home side in this one, with 61% putting their money on Boston.

With Yao Ming out for the remainder of the playoffs, you would’ve expected the L.A. Lakers to walk over the Rockets in Game 4, despite the fact they were in Houston.

Not so fast…the Rockets manned up at home and defeated the Lakers 99-87, covering as a +7.5-point dog and cashing in big for any bettors who had them on the moneyline. Lakers head coach Phil Jackson was so impressed by his team’s performance, he dropped an F-bomb in the postgame press conference.

However, bettors aren’t expecting the Rockets to be twice-lucky going into Game 5 at the STAPLES Center as Houston is a big 12-point underdog and still, bettors are laying the points with Laker money flowing in. Online sportsbook SPORTSBETTING.com is reporting 75% of all the action on this one is backing Kobe and the Laker crew.

But the Rockets have been feisty as a big dog. In their last 16 games as an underdog of more than 8-points, Houston sport a mark of 10-5-1 ATS. Also worth noting is they have 4 overs and 12 unders in those games.

On the other side, the Lakers are 7-12-1 on the Over/Under in their last 20 when favored by more than 8-points.

When it comes to the last 20 games at the STAPLES Center between the Rockets and the Lakers, the purple and gold are 12-8 ATS.

While the Rockets won’t have Ming in the lineup for tonight’s game, the Lakers haven’t been passed over by the injury bug either as a member of Los Angeles’ front court is missing too—starting power forward Lamar Odom is listed as doubtful for Game 5 with a back contusion.

Citing Reuters news service, ESPN reports that an official decision on Odom’s status will be made after morning practice.

Enjoy the games and good luck with your bets.