The Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets take the floor in a potentially pivotal Game 3 matchup on Tuesday in the 2020 NBA Playoffs. LeBron James and Anthony Davis lead the way for the Lakers, with James Harden and Russell Westbrook keying the offensive attack for the Rockets. James (groin) and Davis (finger) are officially listed as probable for Los Angeles. Elsewhere, JaVale McGee (ankle) is questionable and Dion Waiters (groin) is doubtful, with a clean injury report for the Rockets.
Tip-off is at 9 p.m. ET in the Orlando bubble. Los Angeles is a 4.5-point favorite in the latest Lakers vs. Rockets odds from William Hill, down a point from the opener. The over-under, or total number of points expected, is set at 222. Before making any Rockets vs. Lakers picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, and it's already returned over $5,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks this season. It entered the week on a blistering 61-33 run on top-rated NBA spread picks, returning almost $2,500 on those picks alone. It's also a sizzling 11-3 on top-rated picks since the NBA's restart in July. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Lakers vs. Rockets. You can visit SportsLine now to see the picks. Here are the NBA odds from William Hill and trends for Rockets vs. Lakers:
- Lakers vs. Rockets spread: Lakers -4.5
- Lakers vs. Rockets over-under: 222 points
- Lakers vs. Rockets money line: Lakers -185, Rockets +165
- LAL: The Lakers are 4-6 against the spread in the last 10 games
- HOU: The Rockets are 4-6 against the spread in the last 10 games
Why the Lakers can cover
James and Davis are at the center of everything for the Lakers, with both operating as top-10 players in the NBA. James remains a wizard on both ends, averaging 26.4 points, 10.0 rebounds and 9.6 assists per game in the postseason, and he creates matchup issues for any opponent. Davis is also prolific, averaging 29.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game in the playoffs, and he is an X-factor for Los Angeles against a smaller Rockets front line.
Beyond the top two, Rajon Rondo could also be key in this series. The veteran guard missed the entire first round before taking the floor against Houston but, in Game 2, Rondo added 10 points, nine assists and five steals to give the Lakers an extra push in an eventual win. Overall, the Lakers rank as a top-five team in both points scored and points allowed per possession in the playoffs, and Los Angeles flashed its upside with a dominant two-way effort in Game 2.
Why the Rockets can cover
Even after a hiccup in Game 2, the Rockets own the third-best defensive rating in the NBA Playoffs 2020. Houston's small-ball approach is often billed as offense-first, but the Rockets have been notably better on defense than offense in the bubble. Much of that can be attributed to P.J. Tucker and Robert Covington, both of whom create havoc for the opposition.
Offensively, everything runs through Harden, with the NBA's leading scorer averaging 31.5 points per game in the first two contests. The Rockets will need more from Westbrook, who is currently struggling on the offensive end, but Houston is still the most prolific 3-point shooting team remaining in the playoffs. That is the ultimate equalizer in a small sample size, and Houston is capable of an onslaught as a result.
How to make Lakers vs. Rockets picks
SportsLine's model is leaning over on the total, with Davis and Jeff Green projected to exceed their regular-season scoring averages. It also says one side of the spread hits in almost 60 percent of simulations. You can only get the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Rockets vs. Lakers? And which side of the spread hits almost 60 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Lakers vs. Rockets spread to jump on, all from the advanced model that is up over $5,000 on its top-rated NBA picks this season, and find out.
