Los Angeles Lakers vs. Orlando Magic
Free Pick: Orlando Magic +6.5 (-110) NBA betting odds - Sun Jun 7 ’09 8:00p
Visit Touthouse.com for more NBA basketball betting picks from Mike Rose

For the first quarter and a half the Magic looked to be un-phased by the bright lights of the Finals, but in the end their inexperience bit them on the backside. After being such a great second half team in the postseason Orlando flopped in the second half putting up just 32 points. Magic C Dwight Howard had a disappointing night scoring just 12 points with 10 of those coming from the foul-line. Howard managed just one-of-six from the field, but posted his usual double-double adding 15 rebounds to his effort. Orlando has never won an NBA Finals game SU going 0-5 in its history. Tonight the Magic will look to build on a 5-6 ATS mark on the road in the postseason.

The Lakers sent a bold statement to the Magic and all the critics that have them as heavy ‘favorites’ in this series scoring over 100-points for a seventh straight game. LA has been up and down the entire playoffs, but seems to have finally found its grove at the right time. Lakers G Kobe Bryant put up 40 points for the third time in his L/7 contests in Game 1 schooling the young Magic with his sweet jump-shot. Kobe had a near triple-double on Thursday adding eight rebounds and eight assists while blocking two shots defensively. The Lakers are 5-5 ATS on their home floor in the 2009 NBA playoffs and they hope to build on that to take a 2-0 series lead tonight.

Just when folks begin to doubt the Magic they seem to respond with a loud vengeance and have lost consecutive contests just once in these playoffs against the Boston Celtics. The Magic are 6-1 SU after a loss this postseason which is a stat that leads me to believe they will have a great bounce-back performance in Game 2. Look for the Magic to find new ways to defend Bryant while Howard has another 20/20 performance to tie the series heading to Orlando.

If you enjoyed this article then you may be interested in:

1. 2009 NBA Finals Betting Preview: Orlando Magic vs. Los Angeles Lakers
2. Bet on Los Angeles Lakers vs. Orlando Magic Picks & Odds: February 8th
3. Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic Betting Odds & Pick: May 7th 2008
4. NBA Betting: Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Orlando Magic Odds & Predictions: May 30th 2009
5. NBA Basketball Betting: Orlando Magic vs. Charlotte Bobcats Odds & Picks: February 17th 2009