The Los Angeles Lakers welcome the Houston Rockets to the STAPLES Center on Sunday night for a Western Conference matchup. The Lakers are 3-3 this season, bouncing back from an 0-2 start. The Rockets are 1-4 overall and 0-2 away from home this season. Anthony Davis (knee) is listed as probable for the Lakers, with LeBron James (ankle) listed as questionable. Kevin Porter Jr. (ankle) is listed as questionable for Houston.
Tip-off is at 10:30 p.m. ET in Los Angeles. Caesars Sportsbook lists the Lakers as 11.5-point home favorites, while the over-under, or total number of points Vegas thinks will be scored, is 222 in the latest Rockets vs. Lakers odds. Before you make any Lakers vs. Rockets picks and NBA predictions, you need to see what SportsLine’s advanced computer model has to say.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned almost $9,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks over the past three-plus seasons. The model finished up almost $600 on its top-rated picks last season and enters Week 2 of the 2021-22 NBA season on a stunning 103-68 roll on top-rated NBA picks against the spread. Anyone following it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Lakers vs. Rockets and revealed its coveted picks and predictions. You can head to SportsLine to see all of the model’s NBA picks. Here are several NBA betting lines and trends for Rockets vs. Lakers:
- Rockets vs. Lakers spread: Lakers -11.5
- Rockets vs. Lakers over-under: 222 points
- Rockets vs. Lakers money line: Lakers -800, Rockets +550
- HOU: The Rockets are 2-3 against the spread this season
- LAL: The Lakers are 15-28 against the spread in the last 43 home games
Featured Game | Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets
Why the Rockets can cover
Houston is led by Christian Wood, with the talented big man averaging 19.8 points and 11.2 rebounds per game this season. Wood also put up 21.0 points and 9.6 rebounds per game a year ago, and he is a true x-factor for the Rockets. Houston is a top-eight team in 3-point accuracy, making 36 percent of attempts this season, and the Rockets are generating 21.8 free throw attempts per game to rank in the top 10 of the league.
Defensively, Houston is strong in preventing 3-point accuracy, with opponents shooting 33.6 percent from long distance. The Rockets are also a top-10 team in turnover creation, forcing a giveaway on almost 15 percent of possessions, and Houston ranks No. 7 in the NBA with 9.4 steals per game. Los Angeles is a strong opponent, but the Lakers are No. 28 in the NBA in turnovers, committing 17.2 per game in 2021-22.
Why the Lakers can cover
Los Angeles is No. 2 in the NBA in field goal shooting this season, making 48.7 percent of attempts. The Lakers are also a top-four team in both two-point shooting (54.3 percent) and 3-point shooting (38.9 percent), with the No. 8 mark in the NBA in assists at 24.7 per game. Houston ranks in the bottom five of the NBA in two-point accuracy allowed (55.6 percent) and 3-pointers allowed (14.6 per game), and Los Angeles should be able to score efficiently.
On the defensive end, the Lakers led the NBA in overall efficiency last season, posting top-five marks in turnover creation, defensive rebounding and shooting efficiency allowed. Houston is currently No. 28 in the NBA in two-point shooting (47.4 percent), and the Rockets have ball security issues, committing 17.8 turnovers per game this season.
How to make Rockets vs. Lakers picks
SportsLine’s model is leaning under on the point total, projecting these two teams combine for 217 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in well over 60 percent of simulations. You can only see the model’s Lakers vs. Rockets picks at SportsLine.
So who wins Lakers vs. Rockets? And which side of the spread hits in well over 60 percent of simulations? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the Rockets vs. Lakers spread you need to jump on Sunday, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks, and find out.
