NBA Picks: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

The Los Angeles Lakers have lost their last 10 games in straight-up action when playing as road underdogs of 6.5 to nine points, which can't be ignored when making NBA picks Tuesday night, as they prepare to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Sports bettors will find that the Lakers are getting 8.5 points in the pro basketball odds (courtesy of SBR Forum), while the total is sitting at 214 in the market.

Let's take a closer look at this Western Conference matchup from a betting perspective, while offering up an against-the-spread pick along the way.

Los Angeles Lakers

The Los Angeles Lakers have won five of their last six games, including a 99-98 victory over the Atlanta Hawks as 5.5-point home favorites Sunday.

Sports bettors will find that the Lakers are 5-13 against the spread as underdogs this year, with the OVER going 12-5-1 in that situation.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder are 26-4 at home this season, including a 19-1 mark versus Western Conference opponents.

Over the last two-plus seasons, the Thunder are 26-20 against the spread as home favorites of 6.5 to nine points, with the OVER going 29-16-1 in those 46 opportunities.

Prediction

I'm going to recommend that readers back the Los Angeles Lakers as one of their sports betting picks Tuesday night, as the Oklahoma City Thunder are 10-11 against the spread when facing a team that averages 99-plus points during the 2012-13 NBA season.

NBA Pick: Los Angeles Lakers +8.5

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