The Los Angeles Lakers are expected to win Game-3 of the NBA Finals against the Boston Celtics in Staples Arena tonight (9 p.m. ET ABC) and oddsmakers agree. Online sportsbook SportsBetting.com has installed the Lakers favorite by a 9-point chalk ATS and -600 on the moneyline with a 196 total. Tonight’s game is considered a must-win for the Lakers if they expect to have any chance at winning the NBA Championship. After losing two games in Boston, the Lakers returned to California on Monday. A win for the Celtics would almost spell doom for LA.
The Celtics defeated the Lakers 108-102 as a 1-point underdog on Sunday night to take a 2-0 lead in the NBA Finals. The combined score went OVER the posted over/under total (190.5).
Paul Pierce scored 28 points and handed out eight assists for Boston in the win, while Leon Powe added 21 points. Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 30 points to go along with eight rebounds for Los Angeles, and Pau Gasol had 17 points and 10 rebounds in a losing effort.
"All they did is protect their home court," said Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic, who made two 3-pointers in the fourth quarter of Sunday's 108-102 loss and had a potential go-ahead 3 blocked by Pierce with 14 seconds left. "All they did was protect their home court, so it's going to be a different story in L.A."
Only three teams: Boston against Los Angeles in 1969, Portland against Philadelphia in 1977, and Miami against Dallas in 2006 have overcome an 0-2 deficit to win it all. The Lakers have some work to do if they intend to be the fourth.
Point-Spreads.com NBA Finals Pick: Lakers -9 ATS
