Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets Betting Preview
Two of the most hyped Western Conference teams are set to face off on Thursday night, with both the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets coming off challenging bouts of disappointment.
The Houston Rockets are coming off of a 108-102 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
The Los Angeles Lakers rebounded with a 116-108 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday, but their previous contest saw a disappointing loss to the reigning champion Toronto Raptors that saw LeBron James striding off the court before the final horn blared.
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Both teams are facing off in what could be a likely Western Conference Finals showdown, and while it’s still just the NBA Bubble, there is no doubt it could prove to be a precursor for a showdown come playoff time.
Here are the biggest things to keep in mind when you make your wagers this Thursday.
The Odds
At this time, a current line is unavailable, but based on power rankings and previous matchups, a presumptive line may see the game open as a pick ’em, or the Lakers possibly 1.5-point chalk favorites.
However, their most recent matchup saw the Lakers as 6.5-point favorites and a total set at approximately 234.5 points. For the latest NBA odds, click the link.
So what should you be looking at for this game?
Well, frankly, and we know the degenerates out there won’t like this, but as far as a play on the spread, there is no play that stands out, depending on where the line opens up.
Given that both teams play fast paces, love to run and gun, and feature individually exemplary scorers, it’s hard to definitively say one way or the other where the value is on the spread.
Either team can score in bunches, as it goes with the NBA, if a team gets on a roll, it’s hard to stop them. This could easily be a straight-up barn burner, coming down to the wire, or it could end up a blowout, depending on where the energy and feel is for both teams.
Both squads have essentially cinched up a playoff spot, so it is by no means a must-win game for either squad. At that point, it becomes a bet on effort, and when looking at the pace of play, which both teams rank high in, bettors should take a serious look at the total.
Total Windfall
James, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. Any of those guys could put up 40 or 50 points on a given night, and if you have multiple players contributing those kinds of efforts, it could be even higher.
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Given that squares love to pound Western Conference overs (and who can blame them, the over has been quite rewarding during the NBA Bubble), we really like the under in this situation if you’re looking for a basketball pick.
Expect a line that will sit in the 230s, likely the 234 or 235 number we alluded above, and if you’re an under bettor, be patient, and you may see early money drive that line up a point or two prior to tip.
We expect to see a closer game than expected, with the Rockets staying competitive until they lose it in the final few possessions.
Take the under, no matter the number.
We like a final score of 110-103, Lakers win.