The Los Angeles Lakers will be looking to lock down their playoff berth on Wednesday night as they close out their season with an NBA betting matchup against the Houston Rockets.
The Lakers are just 1-4 SU and 1-4 ATS over their past five games against the Rockets, including a 125-112 loss in Houston when the teams last met on January 8. The OVER has paid out for totals bettors in nine of the past 10 Lakers vs. Rockets games.
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The Lakers currently sports a record of 44-37, and have posted a corresponding betting slate of 33-47-1 ATS. The Rockets are 45-36 and 41-39-1 ATS. Betting totals have seen the Lakers post a 44-36-1 OVER/UNDER record this season, while the Rockets have gone 41-40 against the number.
View Houston vs LA Lakers Odds and Stats.
Betting Line:
Sportsbooks such as Sportsbook had set the Lakers as 3.5-point favorites on the Sportsbook line for this contest. The total was listed earler at 204, but may be on the move at Sportsbook and other top sites.
Power Rankings / Prediction:
The Power Rankings at Odds Shark have the No. 10-rated Rockets taking on the No. 11-rated Lakers in this contest. Computer models indicate a possible 107-104 win for the Rockets on Wednesday.
How They Match Up:
The game also pits Los Angeles's No. 6-ranked offense, averaging 102.2 PPG, against a Rockets defense that ranks No. 28 at 102.5 PPG. The Lakers field goal percentage has averaged 45.9% so far, less than the Rockets shooters have achieved on the year, 46.1% per game.
Defensively, the Rockets feature the league's No. 25-rated defense on the road, giving up 104 points per game. Los Angeles, meanwhile, comes in at No. 10 in the league in scoring at home.
Last time out for Houston, they were a 119-112 loser as they battled the Suns on the road. The Rockets failed to cover in the match as an 8-point favorite, while 231 combined points moved the game OVER for totals bettors. Chandler Parsons scored 24 points in a failed effort to lead the Rockets to victory (they lost 119-112 to Phoenix at US Airways Center on Monday).
In their last action, Los Angeles was a 91-86 Sportsbook at home against the Spurs. They covered the 3-point spread as underdogs, while the combined score (177) was profitable news for UNDER bettors. Dwight Howard scored 26 points and added 17 rebounds for a double-double, leading Los Angeles over San Antonio, 91-86, on Sunday at STAPLES Center.
Houston Rockets Trends:
When playing on Wednesday are 6-4
After playing Phoenix are 5-5
After a loss are 8-2
Los Angeles Lakers Trends:
When playing on Wednesday are 7-3
After playing San Antonio are 8-2
After a win are 6-4
A few Rockets at Lakers trends to consider:
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston's last 5 games when playing on the road against LA Lakers
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Houston's last 10 games when playing LA Lakers
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston's last 6 games on the road
Houston is 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing LA Lakers
The total has gone OVER in 5 of the LA Lakers last 5 games when playing at home against Houston
LA Lakers are 5-0 SU in their last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 9 of the LA Lakers last 10 games when playing Houston
LA Lakers are 7-1 SU in their last 8 games
