The Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets have turned in OVER results for totals bettors in each of their last eight meetings heading into their matchup down in Texas on Tuesday night.
Editor Note: Pau Gasol not expected to play due to knee tendonitis. That includes a 119-108 Los Angeles win against Houston at the Staples Center when the two teams last met on November 18, with the Lakers covering the 7-point spread in a game that went OVER the posted total of 205.5 points at the sportsbooks.
The Rockets bring a 8-8 record (8-7-1 ATS) to the battle against the 8-9 Lakers, who are 7-10 ATS. OVER/UNDER bettors have seen Houston go 10-6 so far and the Lakers go 10-7. (Note: follow us on Twitter for line updates and injuries news).
View LA Lakers vs Houston Odds and Stats.
Betting Line:
On the Sportsbook line for this matchup at Sportsbook, the Rockets sat as 2-point underdogs. The total had been pegged earlier by the oddsmakers at Sportsbook at 210.
Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Rockets - Lakers odds would favor the Lakers if the lines were set according to power ranks. Houston is rated No. 10 in our latest Odds Shark poll, while the Lakers sit at No. 6. Math models based on recent stats and predictive formulas point to a 105-102 win for the Lakers.
How They Match Up:
The game also pits Houston's No. 3-ranked offense, averaging 103.5 PPG, against a Lakers defense that ranks No. 14 at 96.9 PPG. The Rockets field goal percentage has averaged 44.3% so far, less than the Lakers shooters have achieved on the year, 45.7% per game.
Defensively, the Lakers feature the league's No. 26-rated defense on the road, giving up 103.8 points per game. Houston, meanwhile, comes in at No. 3 in the league in scoring at home.
Los Angeles lost its last outing, a 113-103 result against the Magic on December 2. The Lakers failed to cover in that game as a 13.5-point favorite, while the 216 combined points took the game OVER the total. Los Angeles got 34 points from Kobe Bryant en route to a 113-103 loss at the hands of Los Angeles on Sunday at STAPLES Center.
The Rockets were a 124-116 Sportsbook in their most recent outing at home against the Jazz. They covered the 6.5-point spread as favorites, while the total score (240) made Sportsbooks of OVER bettors. The Rockets grabbed a 124-116 win over the Jazz on Saturday, behind a 20-point effort from Patrick Patterson at Toyota Center.
Los Angeles Lakers Trends:
When playing on Tuesday are 6-4
Before playing New Orleans are 6-4
After playing Orlando are 6-4
After a loss are 6-4
Houston Rockets Trends:
When playing on Tuesday are 1-9
Before playing San Antonio are 3-7
After playing Utah are 8-2
After a win are 4-6
A few Lakers at Rockets trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of the LA Lakers last 5 games when playing Houston
The total has gone OVER in 4 of the LA Lakers last 5 games when playing on the road against Houston
LA Lakers are 15-7 SU in their last 22 games when playing Houston
The total has gone OVER in 17 of the LA Lakers last 25 games on the road
Houston is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston's last 5 games when playing LA Lakers
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston's last 6 games at home
Houston is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Next up:
LA Lakers at New Orleans, Wednesday, December 5
Houston at San Antonio, Friday, December 7
