The Los Angeles Lakers host the New Orleans Hornets tonight, Tuesday April 26th, for game 5 of the Western Conference quarter-finals which is all knotted at two-apiece. The Lakers have won seven of their last ten against the Hornets. NBA oddsmakers have the Lakers as -10.5 point home favourites over the Hornets with the over/under set at 183 points. Be sure to check the Hornets vs Lakers NBA Point Spreads and get your predictions in early.
New Orleans (2-2, 1-1 V) evened up the best of seven series with a 93-88 home win against the Lakers in Game 4. Chris Paul had 27pts while Trevor Ariza and Carl Landry combined for 25pts. Few players in recent playoff years have carved up the Lakers' defense as thoroughly as Chris Paul is doing it in this series. Paul, who destroyed Los Angeles with 33 points and 14 assists in Game 1, is averaging 25.5 points, 11.5 assists and 7 rebounds per game after putting up the first triple-double ever posted against the Lakers in 712 playoff games during New Orleans' win in Game 4. The Hornets have remained humble about their upstart run at the Lakers after stumbling into the playoffs and losing leading scorer David West to a season-ending injury. Yet two victories in four games have built a fire of confidence under New Orleans, which is drafting off the remarkable pace set by its star point guard. It’s not just Paul who’s excelling. Paul lavished postgame praise on Ariza, the former Lakers forward who scored 16 of his 19 points in the first half of Game 4 while holding Bryant scoreless on defense. "He was unbelievable," Paul said of Ariza, who won the 2009 title with Los Angeles. "I told him after the game I fed off of his energy. I might have had four points in the first half, but he single-handedly kept us in the game. It's hard enough to run around with Kobe. For him to be out there to score, he was doing it all."
Los Angeles (2-2, 1-1 H) task gets a bit tougher each time they have to go there to find the energy necessary to finish off contenders. "They certainly play better when they're in a desperate mode, there's no doubt about that," coach Phil Jackson said after Monday's workout at the Lakers' training complex. "They were somber. They understand the nature of we to have to do with this ballclub." One concerning problem for the Lakers is Kobe Bryant’s health. Bryant is limping on a sprained left ankle that might be a bit more serious than the countless injuries he has managed through in the past few seasons. After getting ice and massage during the Lakers' flight home, which landed about 3:30 a.m. local time Monday, he refused any further treatment, preferring to head into Game 5 without knowing the full extent of his latest injury. "He says he'll play," Jackson said of Bryant, who didn't speak to reporters Monday. "He won't let them deal with it. … Doesn't matter, he's going to play tomorrow. That's his attitude." Jackson also said Paul isn't the biggest problem faced by the Lakers, who have all but conceded they can't shut down the four-time All-Star point guard. Their game plan increasingly focuses on slowing down Paul's teammates — a tactic that didn't work in Game 4."We're bothered by (Trevor) Ariza and (Carl) Landry," Jackson said. "We're paying attention to Chris Paul, and he's make big plays. We're not worried about that. We're worried about something we can do something about."
Recent Trends to Consider:
Hornets are 9-2 ATS in the last 11 meetings in Los Angeles.
Over is 10-4 in the last 14 meetings in Los Angeles.
Over is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings.
Road team is 15-5 ATS in the last 20 meetings.
Underdog is 17-5 ATS in the last 22 meetings.
Lakers are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 vs. NBA Southwest.
Hornets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. NBA Pacific.
Lakers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 playoff games as a favorite.
Lakers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a S.U. loss.
Lakers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games.
Lakers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games as a home favorite.
Hornets vs Lakers
When: Tuesday, April 26, 10:30 PM ET
Pick: Hornets +10.5
Point-Spreads.com recommends you check out NBA Point Spreads before Hornets vs Lakers game.
The Bottom Line: An injuried Kobe could be a problem. Hornets to cover. Be sure to check Hornets vs Lakers Basketball Point Spreads and get your predictions in early.
