-
Andrew Rogers
Lakers vs. Rockets Game 3 Prediction: NBA Playoff Odds, Point Spread
LeBron James suggested after the Lakers’ Game 1 loss that his teammates understood how to keep up with the high-flying Houston Rockets. And despite blowing a huge lead in a disastrous third quarter, LeBron showed his teammates what it’ll take to win the series as he led the Lakers to an eight-point win that leaves the teams tied at a win apiece heading into Tuesday’s Game 3. James and Anthony Davis scored 62 combined points to negate Houston’s big night from deep.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Lakers come in as five-point favourites after narrowly covering last time out in a game they led by as many as 21 points. And Sports Interaction bettors still have faith in the faves, taking the Lakers to cover at a 55-percent clip despite the fact that the Lakers are just 5-11 against the spread (ATS) in their last 16 games. Houston has been no better, having gone 2-5 ATS in its previous seven, and the teams are a dead-even 5-5 against the spread in their past 10 meetings overall.
will be interesting to see how the public treats the total of 223.5 given that the teams finished well short of that number in Game 1 and barely crossed it in Game 2. As of Tuesday morning, 57 percent of Sports Interaction respondents are siding with the Under, no doubt buoyed by the fact that Houston’s resurgent defence has played a major part in the Rockets going 4-1 to the Under in their last five. The teams are 12-6 O/U in their past 18 encounters.
Los Angeles Lakers
The Rockets have resigned themselves to the fact that Davis is going to dominate around the basket – and that should make point prop bettors quite happy. Davis poured in 34 points on 12-of-17 shooting in Game 2, scoring 12 points in the paint and adding another 10 just outside the area. Look for Davis to continue cherry-picking easy baskets, and consider strongly taking the Over on his Sports Interaction player prop total.
Houston Rockets
While the Rockets have an ace in the hole in Harden, they’re almost certainly going to need more from his partner in crime if they hope to cash in on their current +300 odds to win the series in an upset. Russell Westbrook is shooting well under 40 percent through two games and had seven turnovers in the Game 2 loss; look for him to rebound and challenge the Over on his points/rebounds/assists prop, particularly if this game remains close.
LAL
HOU