Two of the top teams in the West will square off on Thursday night with the Houston Rockets (32-18) visiting the Los Angeles Lakers (38-11). The game will start at 10:30 p.m. ET from the Staples Center.
We analyze Rockets-Lakers odds and lines, with NBA betting advice and tips around the matchup.
Place a legal sports bet on this NBA action or other games at BetMGM.
Rockets at Lakers: Key injuries
Rockets
- PG Russell Westbrook (thumb): Questionable
- SF Robert Covington (acquired via trade): Available
- PF Jordan Bell (acquired via trade): Available
Lakers
- None
Rockets at Lakers: Odds, lines, picks and betting tips
NBA odds courtesy of BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports for a full set of today’s betting odds. Odds last updated Thursday at 12:00 P.m. ET.
Prediction
Lakers 124, Rockets 114
Moneyline (ML)
The Lakers have been sputtering a bit as of late, going 5-4 in their last nine games without more than two wins in a row since January 10-13. The Rockets have won three straight and are 6-2 in their last eight.
While Los Angeles may not be playing that well, the Lakers will most likely get it done on Thursday night at home, where they’re 17-6 this season. That doesn’t mean you should bet on them, though. The moneyline of -334 isn’t worth the risk against a good Rockets team, so I’d PASS.
New to sports betting? A $10 wager on the Lakers returns a profit of $2.99.
Line/Against the Spread (ATS)
The Lakers are 7.5-point favorites over the Rockets, the eighth straight time they’ve been favored. The last time they were underdogs was against the Rockets last month, a game they won 124-115. In their last 10 games, both teams are only 5-5 ATS, but the Lakers have been better in that department this season (26-22-1).
The spread offers much better upside than the moneyline, which is why I’d take the LAKERS (-110) to cover the 7.5-point margin. If the Rockets rule out Westbrook, that line could grow, too.
Over/Under (O/U)
The over/under is 236.5 points, the highest of any game tonight. Both teams have been hitting the over lately, though, with the total going over in five of the Rockets’ last seven and 10 of the Lakers’ last 12.
In the Lakers’ last four home games, the total has gone over four times, and it’s gone over in three of the Rockets’ last four road games. Bet the OVER 236.5 (-110).
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