Los Angeles Lakers vs. Phoenix Suns (9:00om ET, TNT)
Phoenix Suns will try to square the series against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 4 (9:00 pm ET, TNT) on Tuesday at US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ. Lakers have 57-25 home, 23-18 away record whereas 54-28 away, 32-9 home record.
For the reigning NBA champions, two losses have started to get uncomfortable for the Suns. In much of the second quarter and the entire second half, the Suns used the zone too much. Phoenix Suns coach Alvin Gentry stuck with this game plan because it worked for the Suns when nothing else worked against the Lakers. Lakers in the first two games have averaged 126 points and shot 58 percent in the series.
“We have to try every way we can to find a situation where we can win, whatever that takes, that’s what it is. If we have to play our ‘girlie zone’ as somebody said, we will play our ‘girlie zone” said Gentry.
Steve Nash has a small nasal fracture because of a collision with Derek Fisher. He had his right eye swollen shut after taking an elbow from Tim Duncan in the fourth quarter of Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals.
In the first two contests, Lakers dominated the inside game. The Lakers’ trio of Pau Gasol, Bynum and Lamar Odom were outscored by Phoenix’s front line duo of Amare Stoudemire and Robin Lopez. On 11 of 14 shooting, Gasol scored 23 whereas Odom made just 4 of 14 shots for 10 points. Lopez’s 7-foot presence anchored the Suns’ zone and Lopez scored 20 on 8 of 10 shooting. Lakers made 16 of 20 free throws and the Suns made 37 of 42.
Oddsmakers from various NBA websites have made the Lakers -1 point spread favorites for Tuesday’s game against the Suns. Current NBA Public Betting Information shows that 74% of more the 3,946 bets for this game have been placed on the Lakers -1.
