Los Angeles at Miami

Kobe v. Shaq. Phil v. Pat. Should be a great game and one that should be close. The Lakers have been one of the hottest teams in the league. They've gone 9-2 SU and ATS in their last eleven with one of the losses coming against a great Minnesota team. Since 1996, LA is 25-9 ATS on the road after covering 6 or 7 of their last 8 against the spread. Miami meanwhile is off a loss to New Jersey in a game in which the Heat were favored by seven points. Pat Riley coached teams are just 16-32 ATS at home off a upset loss. The Lakers are doing it with defense. They've held opponents to 93.8 per game on the season and over their last five games, 84.8. They'll need that defense against a Heat team that has been scoring well over 100 since the arrival of Riley. Kobe can keep the Lakers in this one and I see this one coming down to the wire. Two stars on the Lakers.