On Tuesday evening, the Houston Rockets (1-5) visit the Staples Center to take on the Los Angeles Lakers (4-3). Tip-off is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET. Below, we look at the Rockets vs. Lakers odds and lines, and make our expert NBA picks, predictions and bets.
Having played each other on Sunday, the Lakers defeated the Rockets by ten, 95-85.
The Rockets did have five people in double figures, but the 43 combined from SF Carmelo Anthony and PG Russell Westbrook proved to be too much.
Both four-time MVP LeBron James and superstar Anthony Davis played. They’re expected to be in the lineup again tonight despite sustaining injuries earlier in the season.
As for Houston, they could be without a few role players, but C Christian Wood, SF Eric Gordon and SF Jalen Green are expected to play. Houston has only defeated Oklahoma City.
They won that game by 33 and have lost all their other outings by double figures.
Rockets at Lakers odds, spread and lines
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 11:04 a.m. ET.
- Money line: Rockets +420 (bet $100 to win $420) | Lakers -600 (bet $600 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Rockets +9.5 (-108) | Lakers -9.5 (-112)
- Over/Under (O/U): 217.5 (O: -108 | U: -112)
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Rockets at Lakers key injuries
Rockets
- SG Danuel House Jr. (ankle) out
- SG Jae’Sean Tate (ankle) questionable
- C Daniel Theis (toe) questionable
Lakers
- PF Anthony Davis (knee) probable
- SF LeBron James (ankle) questionable
- C Dwight Howard (neck) questionable
- SG Wayne Ellington (hamstring) questionable
- SF Talen Horton-Tucker (thumb) out
- SF Trevor Ariza (ankle) out
- SG Kendrick Nunn (knee) out
Rockets at Lakers odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Lakers 108, Rockets 98
Money line
PASS on the money line.
The Rockets have microwave-type players like rookie Green and veteran sixth man sharpshooter Gordon. Wood can even have a team-carrying game at times.
That’s mainly why I wouldn’t back a Lakers -600. Also, given how many games LeBron looks disinterested in, I’d stay away from the money line in this scenario as the value isn’t there.
Against the spread
“LEAN” to the LAKERS -9.5 (112) as the Rockets have looked incompetent against most NBA teams despite playing in some competitive games. Against the Celtics and Mavs, they competed but still lost by double figures.
Potentially without Tate, the Rockets should be short-handed and therefore struggle to prevent the rim-attacking Westbrook from scoring enough to end up double figures.
Every Rockets’ loss has been by double figures, and on the road against the Lakers who should have James and Davis, that’s really all you need to know.
The sportsbooks are giving the Lakers some juice here. That said, I’d play it cautiously as this line could move as it should easily be a favorite play of NBA bettors.
Over/Under
BET on the UNDER 217.5 (-112) while you still can.
The Rockets and Lakers combined for 180 points on Sunday. That was no mistake as the Lakers have the 13th-best offensive rating. The Rockets are No. 28.
While both teams are among the top three in pace, the Rockets, who are the top team in pace, also rank at the top of the league in turnover percentage.
Neither of these teams shooting threes at a high rate either, ranking 15th (Rockets) and 25th (Lakers) in 3-point field goal attempts per game, hurting the chances that they get hot and put up 115+. The Lakers have surpassed 115 points scored in just one non-OT game.
Combine the Rockets’ struggles with the Lakers’ length and veteran savvy, and I see the Over being a long shot in this one.
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