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NBA Picks: Magic vs Lakers NBA Finals Game 1 Betting Alert: The NBA Picks Experts at Point-Spreads.com are  a Betting Odds Alert for  the 2009 NBA Finals Game 1 match up between the Magic vs Lakers. The Los Angeles Lakers and the Orlando Magic kick off the 2009 NBA Finals tonight at the STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. Game 1 is set to tip off at 9:00pm ET and will be broadcast live on ABC.

Orlando enters tonight's NBA Picks match up with the Lakers sporting a 5-5 road Playoff record. The Magic, who were 27-14 away from the Amway Arena during the regular season, figure to pose the most difficult challenge to the Lakers of any team LA has faced in the post-season thus far. The numbers bear this fact out, and give every indication that the Magic, despite being the underdog in tonight's game (as well as the series), have every opportunity to win the NBA Finals.

Orlando's star center Dwight Howard likes the fact that his team is consistently viewed as the runner-up. He credits it for helping keep the team focused.

"We've always been overlooked," Howard said. "We were overlooked in the first series against Philly. We were overlooked against Boston. We were overlooked against the Cavs, and we're still [being] overlooked. We don't want to be the team that everybody picks to win, because I think as a young team, once everybody starts saying, 'OK, you're this or you're that,' sometimes you tend to forget what got you there."

While most pundits and NBA Picks oddsmakers consider this the Lakers series to lose, Kobe Bryant is not falling prey to the hype. He knows that Los Angeles cannot simply go through the motions and expect to get a win at the STAPLES Center or Amway Arena.

"They've beaten us three of the last four times [we've played]," Bryant said. "So we're very, very concerned."

Here's a look at some of the critical numbers as far as the game line is concerned:
Only two of the Magic's five road Playoff losses have been by six or more points. The average score in Orlando's Playoff road games is 193 points. Only three of Orlando's 10 road Playoff games have exceeded tonight's 205.5 total.

Seven of the Lakers eight home Playoff wins have been by six or more points (winning Playoff home average is 14.6 points). The average score in Los Angeles' Playoff home games is 202.4. Five of the Lakers 10 Playoff home games have exceeded tonight's 205.5 total. 

The Magic are 2-0 in their last two games at the STAPLES Center. They averaged 106.5 points per game in the two wins. The average score in the two games was 206.5. The average game score in the last four games played between these two squads is 213. The Lakers averaged 105 points per game in that span, while the Magic posted an average of 108 points per game.

Sportsbook.com Magic vs Lakers

Orlando Magic +6 (-110), Over 205.5 (-110), +230 (Moneyline)

Los Angeles Lakers -6 (-110), Under 205.5 (-110), -270 (Moneyline)

Visit Sportsbook.com right now to secure your bet in tonight's NBA Finals Game 1 between the Orlando Magic and the Los Angeles Lakers.

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