San Antonio (55-16) –4, o/u 193 at L.A. Lakers (38-34), 10:35 p.m. Eastern
by Ultimatecapper.com Staff
The San Antonio Spurs are zeroing in on home-court advantage in the Western Conference playoffs. They’ll try to take another step toward that goal when they visit the surging Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center Thursday night.
The Spurs lead the Southwest Division and the Western Conference by 1 ˝ games over Dallas. Remember, second place in that division this season will most likely only be good for the fourth seed in the Western Conference when the playoffs start.
The Lakers are in third place in the Pacific Division, four games back of the second-place Clippers. L.A. also sits in seventh place in the Western Conference race, three games behind sixth-place Memphis and two games ahead of eighth-place Sacramento.
The Spurs are 2-2 so far on a five-game road trip. San Antonio beat the Clippers at the Staples Center 98-87 Tuesday as one-point road favorites without guard Tony Parker, who has been bothered by a leg injury. He is expected to play Thursday.
L.A. has won four games in a row after beating New Orleans 105-94 as seven-point home chalk Sunday.
San Antonio is 36-34 against the spread this season, 25-12 straight up and 18-19 ats on the road, 33-34 ats as favorites.
Los Angeles is 35-33 vs. the number this season, 21-13 straight up and 14-18 ats at home, 20-13 ats as underdogs and 2-2 ats as home dogs.
San Antonio had won six games in a row in the series with the Lakers until three weeks ago, when L.A. upset the Spurs 100-92 as eight-point road dogs. The Lakers outrebounded San Antonio 51-41 in the victory.
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San Antonio is shooting 47% from the field this season, third-best in the NBA. The Spurs also hold opponents to 43% shooting from the floor, also third-best in the league.
Los Angeles shoots 45% from the floor and allows opponents to shoot the same.
The Spurs own a 21/13 assists-to-turnovers ratio and a +7.1 points per game differential, tied for the best in the league. The Lakers own a 21/14 A/TO ratio and a +1.7 ppg differential.
The under is 38-30 in San Antonio games this season, 36-36 in Lakers games.
The Ultimatecapper Pick: This line of San Antonio -4.5 is right about where it should be. With that being said, we've had the privilege of watching some Spurs games lately and there's been an obvious showing of them wearing down due to age. We're also a fan of home dogs when the public is one-siding the game like they are with the Spurs tonight. (63% of the public is on the Spurs) This game doesn't thrill us, but it's the Lakers or nothing. If your gonna bet it, grab it now, the line is likely to drop a point as game-time gets closer. | 
