Written by :
Published on :
The Hornets vs. Lakers line had Los Angeles at -10 a tSportsbook.comwith a total of 183.
Kobe Bryant and the two-time defending champion Lakers enter Game 5 at home in the First Round of their playoff series tied at two games apiece for the second straight season. Last year the Lakers won Games 5 and 6 to eliminate the Thunder, and despite being bothered with a foot injury suffered in Game 4, Bryant is counting on his team to repeat history this season with two straight wins over New Orleans
Bryant had one of his worst playoff performances in his career in Game 4, not registering a point in the first half, and finishing with just 17 total. Pau Gasol scored 16 points, but still is performing well below his regular-season production (18.8 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 52.9% FG). He is averaging just 12.3 PPG, 6.3 RPG and 39.5% FG in the series. After winning the Sixth Man of the Year Award during the regular season, Lamar Odom has also underperformed in this series, averaging just 11.3 PPG on 48.5% FG (14.4 PPG, 53.0% FG in regular season).
Chris Paul has clearly been the MVP of this series, dominating play in the Hornets two victories. Paul recorded a triple-double in Game 4, scoring 27 points, grabbing 13 boards and dishing out 15 assists. Paul became the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1964, to score at least 25 points with at least 10 rebounds and at least 15 assists. New Orleans played excellent defense in Game 4, holding the Lakers to 4-of-18 shooting from behind the arc.
On paper it’s just very hard to understand how the Hornets can consistently compete with the Lakers, but thanks to two super-human performances from Paul, New Orleans finds itself a road win away from having a chance to clinch the series at home.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com
