Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets Prediction & Picks - NBA
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by Lou Aguila | in NBA Picks
The Houston Rockets will try to take advantage of the shorthanded Los Angeles Lakers, who are playing without Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves, in Game 1 of their first-round Western Conference playoff series at Crypto.com Arena.
Momentum: The Houston Rockets closed their regular-season campaign, winning four of their last five games to clinch the No.5 spot in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers grabbed the No.4 seed after winning their last three games of their regular-season schedule.
The Matchup: The Lakers won 2 of 3 games with the Rockets this season, including the last two. The LA Lakers are 10-1 SU in their last 11 games when playing at home against Houston.
Key Injuries: Rockets’ Fred VanVleet (Out – Knee), Kevin Durant (Gametime Decision – Knee). Lakers’ Luca Doncic ( Out - hamstring), Austin Reeves (Out – Oblique).
Hot on the Board: The Rockets are -205 road favorites and -105 to cover 5.0 points. The Lakers, playing without their two leading scorers (Doncic and Reeves), are +170 underdogs despite their 10-1 record in their last 11 home games vs. the Rockets.
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Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets Form
Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets Latest Matches
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Los Angeles Lakers against Houston Rockets : Head to Head (H2H)
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Players list
M. Smart
L. Kennard
L. James
R. Hachimura
A. Thompson
J. Okogie
R. Sheppard
J. Smith Jr.
Substitutes
D. Knecht
N. Smith Jr.
B. James
J. LaRavia
A. Thiero
J. Vanderbilt
M. Kleber
J. Davison
A. Holiday
J. Green
T. Eason
K. Durant
D. Finney-Smith
J. Tate
Los Angeles Lakers - Houston Rockets Key Points
- Houston is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games.
- Houston is 6-3 ATS in its last 9 games.
- LA Lakers are playing without Luka Doncic and Austin Reeves
- LA Lakers is 13-7 ATS in its last 20 games.
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Our Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets Prediction
Fearless Forecast: The Rockets blow out the Lakers 117-109
Sharp Play: The Rockets -5.5 points. Houston will take advantage of the absence of Doncic and Reeves in this game. Without these two players, the Lakers will basically pin their hopes on the 41-year-old LeBron James, who is averaging 20.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists per game this season. The Lakers are 11-13 as underdogs against West teams.
As for the Rockets, they have the inside-out combo of Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun, which is surrounded by capable scorers like Jabari Smith Jr., Amen Thompson, and Reed Sheppard. Houston is 9-1 SU in its last 10 games.
With LeBron taking the charge, the Lakers could keep the score close through the first three quarters before finding out the hard way that they just don’t have enough ammunition to outgun the Rockets down the stretch.
Our betting predictions for the Houston Rockets vs. the Los Angeles Lakers: The Rockets -5.0 points.
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All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
