A good, heated rivalry is key to the drama, and therefore the entertainment value, in every sport, and with that in mind, this year’s NBA Finals matchup has the potential to be a classic.
One of pro sports’ greatest rivalries adds a new chapter to its rich history tonight when the Boston Celtics take on the Los Angeles Lakers at the Staples Center in Game 1 of the NBA championship series (9:05 pm ET, ABC).
Somewhat surprisingly, the Lakers are big favorites heading into the opener. NBA Odds at betED.com have Los Angeles as a -240 moneyline, 5.5-point favorite, while the over/under total is at 191.5.
The rivalry between the Celtics and Lakers is one of the longest in sports, dating back to 1948. Since then, the teams have met 272 times, with the Celtics holding a 152-120 SU edge.
They have met 11 times in the NBA Finals. Boston holds a big edge, going 9-2 in those championship battles. The Celtics have won the NBA title a record 17 times; the Lakers are second with 15 titles.
The Lakers likely still have a bad taste in their mouths from their most recent NBA Finals loss to the Celtics two years ago. Boston beat Los Angeles in six games in 2008, capped by a 131-92 blowout in Game 6.
In the East Finals, the Celtics beat the Orlando Magic four games to two, clinching the best-of-seven series with a 96-84 win at home on Friday. The Celtics cashed as a 3.5-point home favorite and the score went under the total of 187.5.
Los Angeles beat the Phoenix Suns 4-2 in the Western Conference Finals, closing out the best-of-seven series with a 111-103 win in Game 6 in Phoenix on Saturday. The Lakers cashed a 1.5-point road underdog and the score went under the total of 217.5.
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