A very favorable matchup is slated for the Los Angeles Lakers today. After suffering a loss to the San Antonio Spurs, they’ll head out to Houston to face the Rockets.
Considering that each game from now on is vital to their placement, they need to get a win here. A few players are still on the “day-to-day” list, but LeBron James should be good to go. Can they get a road win here?
The Houston Rockets are at the bottom of the Western Conference and coming off a big loss. They recently faced the Miami Heat, the best team in the Eastern Conference, and lost 123-106.
Playoff hopes are all but gone; however, the Rockets can spoil it for other teams. Beating the Lakers would deal a blow to their playoff hopes. So, could we see an upset in tonight’s game? See below our single-game parlay as well as all our NBA computer picks and predictions.
Game Preview: Los Angeles Lakers at Houston Rockets
The Los Angeles Lakers struggled to slow down the offense of the San Antonio Spurs a few days ago. This has been a problem for them in the past and could be against the Rockets as well.
Houston might not have very many wins, but it isn’t because of their offense. The Rockets’ offense ranks 18th in the NBA, averaging 108.58 points per game; their defense is the problem.
On average, Houston is allowing its opponents to score 117.94 points per game. This is the worst defense in points allowed in the entire NBA.
This is one of the main reasons why they’ve also had trouble covering the spread at the sportsbook. In their most recent game against Miami, they were 16.5-point underdogs. Because of their defense, they failed to cover the 16.5.
Against the Spread: Los Angeles Lakers -4
We know that the Lakers had trouble against the Spurs, but we think they’ll get back on track here. The Lakers are actually better at covering the spread when they’re traveling instead of playing at home.
Out of the games on Wednesday, this one seems like the best bet because the Lakers are only -4. In their last ten games against the Rockets, they’re 7-3 against the spread.
The Total: Over 233.5
Betting the total in this game is a little more tricky, but the Rockets’ defense is the key. In their last three games against Los Angeles, the total has gone over twice.
The last time they met was in late December of 2021, and the total was set at 227. The Lakers came into the game as six-point favorites and won the game 132-123. The smart move here is taking the over.
Win Margin: Los Angeles Lakers 1-10 (+175)
We especially like this addition to your single-game parlay because the Lakers likely won’t blow them out. The games between them and the Rockets have always been pretty close.
The largest margin the Lakers have won by in the last three is ten points. It also balances out your ticket, giving you good odds against the other picks.