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2009 NBA Finals betting odds have been revised now that the Los Angeles Lakers have secured their spot in the championship game. The Orlando Magic could seal the deal with a win Saturday night against Cleveland.
Here were your 2009 NBA Finals betting odds heading into Saturday evening's game:
Los Angles -235
Orlando +350
Cleveland +325
Amazingly, the Cavaliers were still favored slightly over Orlando to win while the Lakers were the ultimate favorite to win the 2009 NBA Finals at Bookmaker.com. Should either Cleveland or Orlando win the Final, both would pay out over $300 for every $100 bet. Prior to the last game, the Magic had beaten Cleveland 9 straight games Against The Spread. Orlando was only a -2 favorite playing at home Saturday evening.
"If there's no Game 7, our season's over," Cleveland coach, Mike Brown said. "So we're here to win Game 6."
The Cavaliers, with an NBA-best 66-win regular season, certainly are 0-4 this season in amped-up Amway Arena -- a place the Magic start fast and finish. The Cavs have been able to build big leads in Cleveland and hold on late, a luxury they likely won't get for Game 6 on Saturday night.
It is not only the biggest game in the Magic's most memorable season since the Shaquille O'Neal-Penny Hardway days, it's their best chance left to return to the NBA finals for the first time in 14 years.
Cleveland is trying to become just the ninth team since 1947 to rally and win a series after being down 3-1. Still, they do have LeBron James (AKA Superman).
The league MVP scored 21 points in the second half -- 17 in the fourth quarter -- in Game 5 and had a hand in 31 straight Cleveland points. James finished with 37 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists to become the first player since Oscar Robertson in 1963 to have such numbers in a playoff game.
Tyrone Darnell Black, Gambling911.com and the Associated Press
