Boston Celtics and LA Lakers to extend winning NBA runs
Published:The Boston Celtics and LA Lakers have both been on a bit of a roll of late and can continue their impressive form with victories in their upcoming NBA fixtures, even when giving up a handicap.
Both also face opposition going through a struggling period, with Boston hosting the Houston Rockets and the Lakers travelling to the Detroit Pistons.
Boston Celtics (-4.5) to beat Houston Rockets @ 10/11
Boston have been flying of late and can match their best winning streak of the season of five games if claiming a home victory over Houston.
Their form at the TD Garden has played a huge part in this run as they have triumphed in eight of their last ten at home.
Meanwhile, the form of Rajon Rondo has also had a big impact.
As good as Boston have been at home, Houston have been as bad on their travels, losing their last three away encounters and this does not bode well with their trip to the Celtics the first of five straight games on the road.
This is the first meeting of the season between the pair and if the Rockets are to have a chance, they must hope that fatigue sets in to both Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce in particular, who have played a high number of minutes of late because of injuries within the squad.
LA Lakers (-5) to beat Detroit Pistons @ 10/11
Like Boston, the LA Lakers have also picked up their form of late, with three straight successes since the All-Star break.
This winning run has seen them climb up to third in the Western Conference and they will be confident of extending their personal record against Detroit to six successive victories.
In total, the Lakers have won eight of their last ten, while the Pistons have triumphed in just one of their last five, which happened to be against currently the worst team in the NBA in the Charlotte Bobcats.
Lakers assistant John Kuester will also be especially pushing for victory as he returns to the court where he was fired last year.
