LA Lakers (20-14) vs. Houston Rockets (22-12)
January 5, 2025 7:00 pm EDT
The Line: Houston Rockets -5.5; Over/Under: +224
(Get latest betting odds)
The Los Angeles Lakers travel to the Toyota Center to take on the Houston Rockets on Sunday night. Here’s a Houston Rockets vs LA Lakers Prediction. This article will include a Houston Rockets vs LA Lakers Pick.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Los Angeles Lakers have been in great shape as they’ve won seven of their last nine games overall and they will be gunning for a third straight victory after blowing past the Hawks in a 119-102 home win on Friday. LeBron James led the team with 30 points and eight assists on 13 of 20 shooting, Austin Reaves added 20 points with seven rebounds and six assists while Anthony Davis chipped in with 18 points 19 rebounds, three steals, and three blocks.
As a team, the Lakers shot 48 percent from the field and 13 of 30 from the 3-point line. The Lakers poured in 65 points in the first half to lead by single digits for most of the contest. The Lakers clamped down defensively and held the Hawks to just 16 points in the fourth quarter to make it a complete blowout win in the end. The Lakers will take on the Mavs and Hornets after this game.
Houston Rockets
Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets have cooled off a bit recently as they’ve lost three of their past four games, and they will be hoping for a better effort after getting smashed by the Celtics in a 109-86 home defeat on Friday. Jalen Green led the team with 27 points on 10 of 21 shooting, Alperen Sengun added 14 points, while Dillon Brooks chipped in with 10 points.
As a team, the Rockets shot a miserly 36 percent from the field and 10 of 36 from the 3-point line as they played solid defense to stay within striking distance all the way until the fourth quarter, where they managed just 14 points. Cam Whitmore had a rough night as he shot just four of 17 from the field and one of nine from the 3-point line to finish with just 11 points off the bench.
Why the Houston Rockets will win
- The home team has won seven of the last eight games between the Lakers and Rockets.
- The Lakers have lost eight of their last 10 road games against teams that held a winning record.
- The Rockets have covered the spread in seven of their last eight games against Western Conference opponents following a loss.
- The Lakers have failed to cover the spread in four of their last five games at Toyota Center.
Why the Los Angeles Lakers will win
- The Lakers have won each of their last five games as underdogs against Western Conference opponents.
- The Rockets have lost 11 of their last 12 games against Lakers teams that held a winning record.
- The Lakers have covered the spread in each of their last six games against Western Conference opponents.
- The Rockets have failed to cover the spread in five of their last six games at Toyota Center against Lakers teams that held a winning record.
Total Points Facts
- Eight of the Lakers’ last nine road games against Western Conference opponents have gone UNDER the total points line.
- Thirteen of the Rockets’ last 16 games as favorites following a home loss have gone OVER the total points line.
Houston Rockets vs LA Lakers Prediction
The Lakers are still shorthanded with Gabe Vincent and Christian Wood still out. The Rockets are still without Tari Eason and Jabari Smith Jr. The Lakers are coming into this game with plenty of momentum, as they’ve been playing some of their best basketball of the season. The Lakers have all their key players healthy, while the Rockets are in need of a bounce-back performance following the big defeat to the Celtics on Friday. It’s hard to split these two teams at the moment, but the Lakers have been the hotter team over the past two weeks, and I think they represent decent value as the underdogs in this spot. Give me the Lakers to pull off the minor upset with a win on the road.
