Prediction
The series projects to go six or seven games, depending on how the Lakers respond to playing without Doncic and Reaves. The Lakers are 4-4 this season without their two stars, getting outscored by 1.5 a game.
But, back to today’s game. Houston has a bigger and more athletic squad and is the far superior rebounding team. The Rockets are also the better team defensively, with their backcourt capable of being elite on that end. They should be able to dominate the glass and the paint.
However, the Lakers’ goal is to keep the game close, which I believe they will. According to Betting News, 67% of the “smart money” is on the Rockets. I also lean towards the under as the teams rank in the bottom third of the league in pace. The Lakers will likely want to play even slower with them being shorthanded. In addition, at least one team failed to reach the century mark in two of the three meetings between the clubs this year.
Best Bet: Rockets Moneyline (-220)
Parlay: Rockets (ML) and Under 207.5
Other Bets:
Kevin Durant: Over 24.5 points (-110)
LeBron James: Over 25.5 points (-111)
Alperen Sengun: Over 20.5 points (-107)
Alperen Sengun: Yes, Double-double
© Kirby Lee, Imagn Images
