The Houston Rockets invade the Crypto.com Arena to take on the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 5 of the 1st Round on Wednesday night. Here’s a Lakers vs. Rockets Prediction. This article will include a Lakers vs. Rockets Pick.
Houston Rockets Betting Preview
The Houston Rockets needed to come out swinging to avoid getting swept at home and they did just that by smashing the Lakers in a 115-96 win in Game 4 on Sunday. Amen Thompson led the team with 23 points and seven assists on 10 of 16 shooting; Tari Eason added 20 points with five steals on seven of 10 shooting; and Alperen Sengun scored 19 points while Reed Sheppard chipped in with 17 points. As a team, the Rockets shot 48 percent from the field and 12 of 30 from the 3-point line, but this win was set up by their effort on defense as they held the Lakers to just 21 points in the first quarter to take a nine-point lead into halftime before they caught fire and dominated the third quarter by 34-18 to lead by as many as 28 points at one stage. No bench player scored more than nine points in this game but all five starters scored at least 16 points.
Los Angeles Lakers Betting Preview
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers didn’t come out of the gates looking like a team gunning for a series sweep and they got burned by the Rockets in a tough loss on Sunday. Deandre Ayton led the team in scoring with 19 points and 10 rebounds on nine of 12 shooting; Rui Hachimura added 13 points while LeBron James chipped in with 10 points and nine assists on two of nine shooting from the field. As a team, the Lakers shot 50 percent from the field and a miserly five of 22 from the 3-point line as they failed to match the intensity of the Rockets from the start and kept falling into a deeper hole as the game wore on. No bench player scored more than eight points; Luke Kennard finished with just seven points on three of eight shooting, while LeBron James racked up eight turnovers.
Why the Los Angeles Lakers will win
- The Lakers have won each of their last eight Western Conference First Round home games against the Rockets.
- The Rockets have lost 14 of their last 15 night games at Crypto.com Arena.
- The Lakers have covered the spread in each of their last seven playoff games as favorites against Southwest Division opponents.
- The Rockets have failed to cover the spread in nine of their last 10 games following a home win.
Why the Houston Rockets will win
- The Lakers have lost each of their last six Game 5s of a playoff series.
- The underdogs have won five of the Rockets’ last six playoff games.
- The Rockets have covered the spread in six of their last seven Western Conference First Round games as underdogs.
- The Lakers have failed to cover the spread in five of their last six playoff games as favorites.
Total Points: Facts
- Each of the Lakers’ last six games as favorites following a road loss have gone OVER the total points line.
- Eight of the Rockets’ last nine games at Crypto.com Arena have gone UNDER the total points line.
Los Angeles Lakers Player Facts
- Luke Kennard ranks 1st amongst qualified players for 3P% (47.8%) this season.
- LeBron James ranks 1st amongst qualified players for fast break points per game (5.7) this season.
Houston Rockets Player Facts
- Alperen Sengun ranks 2nd in the league for points in the paint (1008) this season.
- Amen Thompson ranks 1st amongst qualified Guards for rebounds per game (7.8) this season.
Matchup/League Facts
- The Lakers rank 1st in the league for opponent blocks per game this season (3.5).
- The Lakers rank 1st in the league for field goal percentage this season (50.2%).
- The Rockets rank 1st in the league for rebounds per game this season (48.1).
- The Rockets rank 1st in the league for offensive rebounds per game this season (15.0).
Lakers vs Rockets Prediction
The Rockets are still sweating on the availability of Kevin Durant, while the Lakers have ruled out Luka Doncic again but there is a chance that Austin Reaves makes his return to the lineup here. This is definitely a game to check the lineups before tipoff, given the injury cloud hanging over both squads. With that being said, the Lakers were playing great basketball in the first three games of the series, and there was always a chance of a letdown performance in a closeout game on the road, so while the momentum has shifted back towards the Rockets, I am sticking with the Lakers to seal the deal with a narrow win and cover at home, especially if Reaves is able to return.