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Andrew Rogers
Rockets vs. Lakers Game 5 Prediction: NBA Playoff Odds, Point Spread
The Lakers look to finish off the reeling Rockets in Game 5 on Saturday night, having rolled to three straight wins and successful covers after dropping Game 1. Los Angeles is using its size advantage and superior transition game to frustrate an undersized Houston team.
NBA Playoffs Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Three straight ATS triumphs by the Lakers have resonated with sportsbooks, who have made the top seed in the West a 6.5-point favorite in Game 4. And as you might expect, Sports Interaction bettors are siding with the Lakers at an 83-percent clip. They’re 6-2 ATS in their previous eight games despite being favored by at least 4.5 points in all of those contests. Houston, on the flip side, is a dreadful 2-7 ATS in its previous nine.
The Under has cashed in three of the first four games of the best-of-seven, and that has prompted sportsbooks to knock the total for Game 4 down to 215.5. Houston has made good on the Under in six of its previous seven games overall, while the Lakers are 6-3 to the under in their nine postseason games. It’s notable, however, that the Game 4 total is the lowest that either team has seen at any point in the playoffs to date.
Houston Rockets
Not even a 39-16 edge in free throws Thursday night could help the Rockets overcome their shortcomings, which are becoming significant. Houston was outrebounded by a ridiculous 59-33 margin in defeat, snagging just one offensive rebound while allowing the Lakers to grab 12 of them. And while they’re still making roughly 40 percent of their 3-point attempts, they’re taking a lot less of them; they took just 33 in Game 4 after attempting only 30 in the Game 3 loss.
Los Angeles Lakers
Here’s what happens when you roll with LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the same lineup: You wind up with a 19-2 advantage in fast break points, a plus-26 rebounding advantage and an astounding 62-24 edge in points in the paint. The Lakers have struggled from the 3-point line throughout the playoffs, but it hasn’t mattered here as they’ve simply bullied Houston down low. The dynamic duo is averaging a combined 53.5 points and 23.1 rebounds in the series.
HOU
LAL