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NBA Predictions: Oklahoma City Thunder (-2.5) vs Los Angeles Lakers (+2.5) Over-Under 192

The Oklahoma City Thunder will attempt to continue their good fortunes in the Staples Center for game three of the second round.  As this series shifts to a new venue, the power of making adjustments cannot be under estimated.  The Thunder dominated game 1 in Oklahoma City with a blowout win, but the Los Angeles Lakers were able to make some nice defensive adjustments that nearly helped the Lakers come away with a win in game 2.

If you look beyond all the hype about Steve Blake’s missed three in the final seconds that could have been a game winning basket, the Lakers were able to play great defense versus Oklahoma City.  Their defensive effort held the Thunder to a scoring total that was 25 points below Oklahoma City’s season average, and had it not been for Kobe Bryant’s meltdown in the final two minutes the Lakers would have emerged victorious.  Even though rumors surround Coach Mike Brown’s job security, there is no denying that he is a defensive master and it is not all that unreasonable to expect game three’s scoring total to be similar to game two’s.

The way that the Thunder stole game two away from the Lakers would have made a lesser team pack it in for the series, but everyone knows that the Lakers will continue to compete.  Kobe Bryant shot 9-25 from the field in game two and his shot selection was questionable at best, but the Thunder also had a tough time getting to the basket against all of L.A.’s size inside.  This will definitely be a low scoring affair if the Thunder hang out around the perimeter shooting jump shots similar to the way they did in game two.

Overall, this series should be tied at one.  The Lakers ran into a buzz saw in game 1, and responded very nicely in game two with an inspired defensive performance before they game the game away in the closing minutes.  The Lakers will respond with another good defensive effort in game three to make this a closely contested game and a low scoring game, as well.

Pick: Under 192