Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Game 5 Prediction, NBA Playoff Odds
When news broke on Sunday afternoon that Rockets superstar Kevin Durant would be ruled out for Game 4 in Houston that night, a lot of people called curtains on what would be a massively disappointing series for Rockets nation.
Well, LeBron James came down to earth, and the Rockets leaned heavily on their starting five, especially Amen Thompson, to pull out a convincing 115-96 win.
The series now shifts back to L.A. Wednesday night, tipping off at 10 p.m. ET. Do the Lakers close it out, or will the Rockets force a Game 6 back in Houston on Friday?
L.A. is an 8.5-point favourite to win on the NBA odds, with the total set at 208.5.
Rockets vs. Lakers NBA Betting Odds
The most important aspect to monitor ahead of Game 5 is the status of both Durant and Austin Reaves. In the press conference following Game 4, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka stated that Durant is game-to-game due to a left ankle injury. The 37-year-old star averaged 26 PPG during the regular season, good for 11th-best in the league, and has only appeared in one game this series, Game 2’s 101-94 loss in LA, when he went for 23 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Reaves was awesome when on the court this year, averaging 23.3 PPG, 4.7 REB and 5.5 AST in 51 games. He has not played since April 2 due to an oblique injury, but has been listed as a game-time decision for Game 5.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets finally looked connected with a cohesive game plan in Game 4. “Discombobulated” had been the word I was using to describe the Rockets as of late, with no real plan on offence.
Thompson’s value cannot be understated. Prior to Game 4, Thompson had played 134 of the Rockets’ 149 postseason minutes. In the time he was on the court, the Rockets were winning by seven. In the 15 minutes he sat, Houston had been outscored by 27 points, good for a -79.8 net rating. The 10 per cnet of the series he wasn’t on the court was 100 per cent of why the Lakers had captured a 3-0 series lead.
In Game 4, Thompson played 41 minutes, recording 23 points, four rebounds and seven assists while shooting 62.5 per cent from the field.
Los Angeles Lakers
After shooting 10-of-19 from three in Game 1, 13-of-28 in Game 2 and 12-of-29 in Game 3, the Lakers were held to 5-of-22 from three in Game 4. The Rockets upped their physicality defending the wing and top of the key and made DeAndre Ayton beat them.
Ayton went for a team-high 19 points on 9-of-12 shooting and 10 rebounds, but James was held to 2-of-9, while Marcus Smart and Luke Kennard combined for 16 points on 6-of-16 shooting. The Lakers coughed the ball up 24 times, resulting in 30 Rockets points.
If the Rockets are going to maintain this defensive intensity and make the Lakers beat them in one-on-one situations, the return of Reaves is critical. Without him, the Lakers lack on-ball creation.
NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Rockets vs. Lakers Game 5?
I don’t trust the Rockets to put it together two games in a row. Reed Sheppard has really struggled in LA so far, so I don’t think the Rockets will be able to operate with the same offensive spacing. I also don’t think they can mimic 24 turnovers forced. Give me the Lakers to cover and end this series at home, picking up a 110-105 win.
HOU
LAL