World Cup betting players can gear up for the big tournament by doing some NBA betting in the Finals, which are knotted at one game apiece after a spectacular performance by Boston in Game 2. The Celtics will host the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 3 on Tuesday night, but the Lakers already have a win in Boston under their belt this season. Celtics Lakers Betting – Tuesday, June 8, 9:00 PM ET
Ray Allen set a Finals record with eight three-pointers, going 7-of-7 from beyond the arc in the first half of a 103-94 win in the Staples Center. Allen led the way with a game-high 32 points, while Rajon Rondo had his fifth career playoff triple-double with 19 points, 12 boards and 10 assists for the Celtics. Boston was embarrassed by their Game 1 effort and came out with fire from the beginning, jumping out to a seven-point lead after the first 12 minutes, and Allen was at the heart of their best play with his long-range shooting, but it was Rondo who took over in the second half for the Celtics.
Pau Gasol had 25 points, eight boards and six blocks, while Andrew Bynum and Kobe Bryant had 21 points each for the Lakers, who set their own Finals record with 14 blocks. Bynum added seven swats of his own, but that didn’t stop the Celtics from attacking the lane. The Lakers shot 40.8% from the field, including 5-of-22 from beyond the arc, and the Celtics outscored them 36-26 in the paint. The Lakers also wasted a big advantage at the foul line, going 31-of-41 from the charity stripe, while the Celtics were only 20-of-26.
NBA betting odds are favoring the Celtics by 2.5 points at home, where they are 7-2 in the playoffs this season. The Lakers are 4-4 in eight road games in this postseason run, but they can take some encouragement from their 90-89 win in Boston on January 31 thanks to a jumper from Bryant with 7.3 seconds remaining. The Lakers are going to have to figure out a way to keep Allen under wraps without letting Rondo dominate the game as he did in the second half of Game 2. Lamar Odom also has to step up his game as he’s been awful in the Finals so far, averaging 4.0 points and 4.5 boards in 18.0 minutes over the first two games of the series. Odom provides a boost off the bench, and even though Bynum played 39 minutes on Sunday, that was his high of the playoffs and we’re not certain that his knee will hold up for another game like that. But we’re betting on a Lakers’ comeback after their showing in Game 2, as we don’t think the Celtics will get another game like that from Allen.
Betting pick: Lakers +2.5
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