Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets Game 3 Prediction, NBA Playoff Odds
Game 3 of this Western Conference playoff series between the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets is set for Friday night at the Toyota Center in Houston. The Lakers are looking to pretty much lock up this first-round matchup by taking a borderline insurmountable 3-0 lead after winning the first two games at home. They prevailed 107-98 in the opener and 101-94 on Tuesday.
Los Angeles leads the overall 2025-26 head-to-head series 4-1, having taken two of three from Houston during the regular season. The Lakers suffered a Christmas Day loss in front of their home fans but rebounded with eight-point road victories on March 16 (100-92) and March 18 (124-116).
The Rockets are 9.5-point favourites to win on the NBA odds, with the total set at 205.5.
Lakers vs. Rockets NBA Betting Odds
This marks the fifth time in six meetings this season that Houston has been favoured. It was priced at -2 or -2.5 on three previous occasions, while Los Angeles was a -1 road favourite on March 16 – when the Rockets were without starting centre Alperen Sengun.
The Rockets are much bigger favourites with Sengun and Kevin Durant both on the floor, while the Lakers are without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. The total for Game 1 was set at 208.5, but the number dropped to 205.5 for Game 2 and remains there for Friday’s contest.
The Lakers are 5-0 ATS in their last five games and 7-2 ATS in the last nine head-to-head matchups. Although the Rockets are 10-16 ATS in their last 26 overall, they are 3-1 ATS in their last four at home.
As for the over/under, the under is 3-0 in L.A.’s last three overall and 3-1 in the last four meetings between these two teams. However, the over is 6-2 in Houston’s last eight.
Los Angeles Lakers
Although the Lakers have impressed on the court so far in Round 1, the headlines primarily revolve around who isn’t on the floor. Luke Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) are both sidelined and have no timetables for their respective returns. Neither has played since April 2. Doncic is expected to miss at least this entire series, while Reaves has a chance of returning against Houston depending on how many games are required.
Despite those absences, Los Angeles managed to take care of business at home. Luke Kennard stepped up big-time in Game 1, scoring 27 points on 5-for-5 marksmanship from three-point range. LeBron James delivered 19 points, 13 assists, eight rebounds and two steals in the series opener before contributing 28 points, seven helpers and eight boards on Tuesday.
Houston Rockets
Durant missed Game 1 with a knee injury that he sustained in a recent practice. The 37-year-old returned for Game 2 and finished with 23 points, six rebounds and four assists. It was not enough, and Durant will almost certainly be more aggressive moving forward after attempting only 12 shots from the field (made seven) and just four from downtown (made one).
It’s hard to fathom that the Rockets trail 2-0 when you crunch the numbers. They have corralled 14 more rebounds than the Lakers, including a 38-to-12 margin on the offensive end. Moreover, Houston attempted an absurd 27 more shots than L.A. in Game 1 (93 to 66) and 17 more on Tuesday (89 to 72). The Rockets simply need jumpers to start falling, especially from deep – where they are 18-for-62 through two contests.
NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Lakers vs. Rockets Game 3?
Given that the Rockets are in better shape from an injury standpoint and are also playing at home, they really should take this game. However, asking them to win by at least 11 points after dropping the first two games by nine and seven seems like quite a stretch. Let’s go with Rockets 106, Lakers 100.
LAL
HOU