-And that’s why Orlando isn’t favored by NBA Finals odds to win the championship. Their play late in the fourth quarter and overtime of Game 4′s 99-91 loss is remarkable. I know the Lakers did it the game before, but the Magic have done it a number of times in these playoffs (giving up big leads, etc). It was bound to happen.

-Derek Fisher probably extended his career another year with those two treys he made. It’s like he’s Robert Horry 2009.

-Dwight Howard….poor, poor Superman. NBA Finals odds players everywhere cursed your inability to make foul shots. One foul shot would have sealed it, but noooooooooooooo…..

-Pietrus with the big double-ax handle to Gasol. Ric Flair would have been proud. Speaking of Ric Flair:

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

NBA Finals odds for Game 5 have the Magic as a 3-point favorite, and they should be able to pull out the win, due to desperation. No one wants to see the other team celebrate on their home court (as the Lakers know all too well), and that should be enough to get them back to L.A……where they’ll be destroyed.

Don’t forget to do some UFC betting and boxing betting this weekend. Just don’t fight anyone.

Well, Orlando didn’t beat the NBA Finals odds of 6.5 points against the Lakers in Game 3, but they certainly made it interesting with a record-setting performance.

The Magic shot a Finals-record 62.5% from the floor, including an insane 75% in the first half, of their 108-104 victory, and as I said, the guard play would be crucial. Rafer Alston, after being shook by Jameer Nelson’s return to the lineup, dropped 20 points of 8-of-12 shooting, while Mickael Pietrus woke up to score 18 off the bench for the Magic. It was obvious from the beginning that the Magic were much more comfortable at home than they were in L.A., as noticed by their shooting and lack of turnovers, and they managed to make a series out of a matchup that many of those who bet on sports thought was over.

The Lakers still should have won this game, but 10 missed foul shots and an uncharacteristic performance by Kobe Bryant down the stretch sealed the Lakers’ fate. Although Bryant had 31, he missed 11 of his last 15 shots, missed five of those free throws, and he had a couple of late turnovers that killed his team. Pau Gasol added 23 for the Lakers, who are still the favorites in your offshore sportsbook to take the series.

Game 4 should be a barnburner, as the Lakers will want to put Game 3 behind them (especially Bryant), and the Magic will hope they can shoot like they did on Tuesday. If they can’t, their NBA Finals odds are in a world of trouble.

NBA Finals odds are giving Orlando a chance to get back in the series when it goes back to Orlando, but they’ll need much-better guard play than they received in Los Angeles.

Lakers Magic odds – Tuesday, June 9, 9:00 PM ET

Simply put, the Magic guards were awful in the first two games of the series, and Courtney Lee’s missed (and open) layup at the end of regulation of Game 2′s 101-96 overtime loss sums up the way Orlando’s guards have started. Lee and Rafer Alston were a combined 2-of-11 for six points, and they never pressured the Lakers’ guards.  Shoot, even Derek Fisher outscored them by himself with 12 points.

You gotta be good to be lucky, and the Lakers earned some luch when Lee missed that last-second alley-oop. Kobe Bryant dropped 29 points, while Pau Gasol added 24 points and 10 boards, but the Lakers also earned their luck on the defensive end of the floor, forcing 20 Orlando turnovers. Also, Lamar Odom outscored the entire Orlando bench by himself with 19 points.

NBA odds are backing the Magic by four points at home, and their supporting cast, particularly their guards, will play better at Amway Arena. Also, Odom won’t play that well on the road (unless he eats a bowl of Skittles for breakfast again). Look for Bryant to go into “Black Mamba” mode when his teammates tighten up in Orlando, which gives the nod to the Magic. 

Lakers Magic odds pick: Orlando

Well, if the Magic were a Belmont Stakes betting option, they definitely pulled up lame out of the gate. 

Lakers Magic betting – Lakers -6.5, Sunday, June 5, 9:00 PM ET

The Magic were beaten all over the court in a 100-75 mauling at the hands of the Lakers, as they shot 29.9% from the field, and were outrebounded 55-41. Mickael Pietrus was the high scorer with 14 points off the bench, but the Magic’s big three of Dwight Howard, Rashard Lewis and Hedo Turkoglu were a combined 6-of-27 from the field. Orlando was also 8-of-23 from beyond the arc, which is their key to the series. Jameer Nelson made his return but didn’t really do much,  adding six points and four assists in 23 minutes.

For the Lakers, it was all Kobe, all day. Bryant had a game-high 40 points to go with eight boards and eight assists, with 18 points coming in the third quarter to put the Magic away. Pau Gasol had 16 and eight boards for the Lakers, who usually look to get everyone involved, but when your star is feeling it like Kobe was, you gotta let him go.

NBA Finals odds are backing the Lakers by 6.5 points to take a 2-0 series lead to Orlando, and this game will be much, much closer. The Magic looked like a deer in headlights on Thursday, and now the nerves are out of their system. Bryant likely won’t go for 40 again, but he knew how important it was for the Lakers to win Game 1, as the Magic won the first game of their series with both Boston and Cleveland. The Magic will make it closer, but the Lakers just want it more.

Lakers Magic betting pick: Lakers to cover