In a series that had featured four blowouts, the Western Conference Finals certainly took a turn for the dramatic on Thursday night when F Ron Artest picked up an errant G Kobe Bryant shot and flushed it home at the buzzer to give the Los Angeles Lakers a 103-101 victory and a 3-2 series lead in the Western Conference Finals over the Phoenix Suns.

BetUS Sportsbook takes its shot at NBA playoff picks for the sixth game in this series, one that the Suns must win if they hope to keep their season alive.
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#1 Los Angeles Lakers (68-29, 41-53-3 ATS) vs. #3 Phoenix Suns (64-33, 59-37-1 ATS) •Game Date/Time: Saturday, May 29th, 9:00 ET •Game Location: US Airways Center, Phoenix, AZ •TV/Radio Broadcast: TNT, Sirius

NBA Playoff Odds: Los Angeles Lakers +1.5 vs. Phoenix Suns -1.5: Game Total 216

Bryant may not have hit the game-winning shot, but he certainly has been the MVP of this series for HC Phil Jackson’s team. Bryant has now posted three straight games that came up just short of triple-doubles. He is averaging 33.0 points, 9.6 assists, and 7.4 rebounds per game in this series and is the man that seemingly always hits the big shot with hands in his face.

G Derek Fisher stepped up and gave him a ton of help in Game 5. The wily veteran scored 22 points and hit dagger after dagger that kept the Suns from going on that one huge run that could’ve taken away LA’s lead in a heartbeat.

For Phoenix, had the bench not had such a woeful first half, it probably would be up 3-2 in this series instead of down 3-2. Even though the relief men for HC Alvin Gentry ultimately scored 31 points, they only came up with one bucket in the first half.

C Channing Frye and F Jared Dudley both posted double digit efforts off of the bench in the defeat. Frye, who shot a woeful 1/20 from the floor in the first three games of this series went 4/10 and hit three triples to help bring the Suns back from a deficit that once reached 18 points.

G Steve Nash’s great game was wasted, as he shot 12/20 from the floor for 29 points to go with 11 assists against just two turnovers.

NBA Playoff Insider Tip: After getting blown out in Games 1 and 2, the Suns have suddenly covered three straight games against the Lakers in this series.

Common logic suggests that the Suns could just fall flat after suffering such an emotional defeat. However, we tend to believe that they are going to fight tooth and nail to keep this series alive and to send it back to LA.

Expect to see Phoenix throw the kitchen sink offensively at the Lakers, and the end result should be a ‘W’ for the hosts in what could be an incredibly high scoring affair.

Our NBA playoff picks are on the Suns to send this series back to Tinseltown.

My NBA Playoff Prediction: Phoenix by 3
Source: BetUS Locker Room Featured on: Handicapperspicks.com

The last time that the Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics took the Parquet Court in Beantown, the hosts had to feel as though they were right there on the verge of sweeping away the visitors and reaching the NBA Finals for the second time in three years. However, just five days later, the Eastern Conference Finals are still alive, and the C’s are just one slip away in NBA playoff betting action from having to deal with a deciding seventh game in Orlando.
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The Magic inched just a tad bit closer to becoming the first team in NBA history to erase a 3-0 series deficit on Wednesday night when they took out Boston 113-92 in their most impressive game since the close out game against the Atlanta Hawks back on May 10th.

Orlando Magic (69-26, 55-38-2 ATS) vs. Boston Celtics (61-37, 44-52-2 ATS). Game Date/Time: Friday, May 28th, 8:30 ET. Game Location: TD Banknorth Garden, Boston, MA. TV/Radio Broadcast: ESPN, Sirius

NBA Playoff Odds
Orlando Magic +3 vs.Boston Celtics -3 : Game Total 189
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After waiting for four games, the Orlando offense finally showed up in Game 5 in the Sunshine State, as the team shot 52.2 percent from the floor and nailed 13 three pointers. That marked the first time the squad had shot better than 42.0 percent from the field or 38.0 percent from long range in this series.

F Rashard Lewis finally made an acceptable appearance as well, as he scored a series-high 14 points on 6/11 shooting. C Dwight Howard chipped in 21 points and ten boards for his second straight solid game.

The key to victories in Games 4 and 5 has arguably been the heart of G Jameer Nelson. Nelson has scored 47 points over the L/2 NBA playoff betting affairs the Magic have engaged in.

Boston fans have to be wondering what is next for their team. The C’s only got three baskets all night long from F Paul Pierce in Game 5.

F Rasheed Wallace scored 21 points, but he has an injured back that could keep him out of Game 6. He wasn’t the only casualty on the night for HC Doc Rivers.

F Glen Davis had a tooth knocked clear out of his mouth and was concussed on the court thanks to an elbow from Howard that, though it was most likely a foul, wasn’t a dirty play. C Kendrick Perkins was ejected after playing just 17 minutes of action, and because his second ‘T’ marked his seventh of these playoffs, he would have been suspended for Game 6 had the NBA not rescinded either of the technical fouls.

NBA Playoff Insider Tip: The underdog and the road team are now 8-2 ATS in the L/10 NBA betting battles between these Eastern Conference opponents.

The bottom line here is that the Magic are starting to play with some swagger, while the Celtics are starting to wonder if they really have what it takes to close this series out. The fans in Beantown might become restless, especially if their C’s ultimately get off to a poor start on Friday night. With the Bruins already blowing a 3-0 series lead to the Flyers in the second round of the NHL playoffs, the TD Garden is going to be on tilt throughout the games entirety.

Orlando will put the chokehold on the Celtics in NBA playoff betting action and shockingly send this series back to Orlando for a seventh and deciding game.

My NBA Playoff Prediction: Orlando by 5
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