Don’t look now, but Los Angeles (44-31 SU, 33-41-1 ATS) is showing signs of rounding back into championship form. The Lakers have won seven of their last eight going into tonight’s Game 3 with Phoenix (52-22, 43-29-2), which struggled down the stretch Tuesday with the injured Chris Paul on the bench.
- Date/Time: May 27, 10 p.m. ET
- Arena: Staples Center
- TV Coverage: TNT
- Sportsbook Odds: Lakers -6.5 | O/U 212.5 (Line History)
- Suns vs Lakers Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
Oddsmakers have made a big adjustment for Paul’s shoulder injury, Sportsbook the Suns as 6.5-point road underdogs after they were 1-point home dogs in Game 2. That line had moved to +7 at most betting sites by the time of writing, while the total had dipped a couple of points down to 210.5.
Phoenix News & Notes
Paul’s status is obviously Phoenix’s biggest concern going into Game 3 after the veteran star played just seven minutes in the second half of Tuesday’s 109-102 loss to the Lakers. Coach Monty Williams told the Arizona Republic that he pulled Paul out of the game early with hopes that Paul’s shoulder contusion might “get better over the next 48 hours.”
Paul clearly wasn’t himself before being benched, collecting just six points and five assists in 23 minutes, and Phoenix might opt to sit him out entirely to give him extra time to heal before Game 4. Cameron Payne, Paul’s backup, had 19 points in 33 minutes on Tuesday, adding seven assists.
Whether or not Paul plays, the Suns need more balance throughout their lineup. Deandre Ayton (21-for-24 shooting from the field) and Devin Booker (averaging 32.5 points) have been spectacular offensively in the series, but Ayton, Booker and Payne were the only Suns to score more than eight points on Tuesday. Phoenix also needs to find some defensive answers to the size of the Lakers inside after allowing Anthony Davis to take 21 free throws in Game 2.
Los Angeles News & Notes
After calling himself out for not being aggressive enough in the series opener, Davis responded with 34 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists on Tuesday. But he also got plenty of help as three other Lakers starters had at least 15 points, including a 15-point, 12-rebound effort from Andre Drummond at center.
Guard Dennis Schroder provided 24 points and made several key defensive plays after Phoenix had overcome a 15-point deficit to take the lead in the fourth quarter. And LeBron James looked his best since returning from a high-ankle sprain that sidelined him for much of the second half of the season, scoring 23 points and adding nine assists.
Other than a hiccup in Game 1, when they scored just 90 points, the Lakers might finally be starting to look like their champion selves once again. LA has won seven of its last eight games dating back to the regular season, and the Lakers are 5-0 SU in their last five at Staples Center.
Betting Pick: Suns +7
Even with Paul banged up, this looks like too much to lay with a Lakers team that has won just three games by more than seven points over the past month.
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Buy Sports Picks Now- The total has gone OVER in 10 of Phoenix’s last 12 games.
- Los Angeles is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games.
- Phoenix is 1-6 SU in its last 7 road games vs Los Angeles.
