NBA Playoffs 2012: Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Los Angeles Lakers, Game 3 Odds

The Los Angeles Lakers (4-5) and Oklahoma City Thunder (6-0) will continue their best-of-seven Western Conference semifinal series on Friday night at the Staples Center, with the opening tip scheduled for 10:30 ET on ESPN.

Las Vegas oddsmakers have opened up the Lakers as 2.5-point home favorites in Game 3 despite losing the first two games of the series in Oklahoma City, while the total stands at 194.

Los Angeles was handed a 77-75 setback in Game 2 as eight-point road underdogs on Wednesday night, as it was unable to close the deal after leading by seven points with just over two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Lakers now have a tall mountain to climb in order to reach the conference finals in the 2012 NBA playoffs, considering the franchise is just 2-17 all-time in series play when dropping the first two games of a best-of-seven series.

A return to Southern California may lift the team's spirits after such an emotional loss, posting a 29-8 overall record at Staples Center, including wins in three of four first-round games against the Denver Nuggets.

Oklahoma City has the look of a champion six games into its 2012 NBA playoff schedule, focused on moving past this particular round for the second consecutive year. The Thunder have a great chance of ending things with two wins in Los Angeles, bringing in a 23-12 record away from Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Los Angeles may fold like a tent—last tasting victory in the second round of the playoffs on May 2, 2010, with a 104-99 home win over the Utah Jazz.

Kobe Bryant's window of opportunity to win his sixth championship ring is dangerously close to being shut.

Follow on Twitter: @JeffGrantSports