This is a 10* NON-CONFERENCE TOM on the UNDER Celtics/Lakers.

Both teams have been involved in several higher-scoring games of late, but I believe that the overall situation that each finds itself coming into this one, combined with the numbers/trends all point to this one being a lot more of a defensive affair than what the oddsmakers are trying to lead us to believe.

Boston is 22-6, but a mediocre 8-6 on the road. It's coming off back-to-back road victories over the Kings (144-119) and the Clippers (145-108), but after posting 289 points combined over the last two games, I just think this nationally televised total is just a few points higher than it normally would/should be.

The Lakers finally snapped a four-game slide with a 129-120 win at OKC the other night (I had LA in that one!) LA has now seen the total go OVER the number in three straight, but that's important for us to take note of as the Lakers have in fact seen the total UNDER the number in six of their last eight after playing to three or more straight OVERs in a row.

A great situational play here on the UNDER.

Good luck, NP