The Los Angeles Lakers host the Houston Rockets on Friday night in a game that projects to have significant implications on the Western Conference playoff picture. The Lakers currently hold the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference standings, one game ahead of the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers. Los Angeles is looking to build off its 112-97 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday. The Rockets have locked up the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference and may opt to rest some of their key players. Houston lost 134-117 to the Los Angeles Clippers on April 9. LeBron James (groin) is probable for the Lakers, while Alperen Sengun (personal), Fred VanVleet (ankle), and Jabari Smith Jr. (groin) are all questionable for Houston.
Tipoff from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles is set for 10:30 p.m. ET. Los Angeles is a 9.5-point favorite in the latest Lakers vs. Rockets odds from SportsLine consensus, and the over/under for total points scored is 225.5. Before making any Lakers vs. Rockets picks, be sure to check out the NBA predictions and betting advice from the SportsLine Projection Model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. The model enters the final week of the 2024-25 NBA regular season on a sizzling 155-115 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning nearly $4,000. It’s also an outstanding 21-10 (68%) on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
The model has set its sights on Rockets vs. Lakers and just locked in its picks and NBA predictions. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for the game:
- Lakers vs. Rockets spread: Lakers -9.5
- Lakers vs. Rockets over/under: 225.5 points
- Lakers vs. Rockets money line: Los Angeles -475, Houston +365
- Lakers vs. Rockets picks: See picks at SportsLine
- Lakers vs. Rockets streaming: FuboTV (Try for free)
Why the Lakers can cover
The Lakers can move one step closer to locking up the No. 3 seed in the West with a win on Friday. Los Angeles was dominant on the defensive end in its last outing, holding the Dallas Mavericks to 97 points on Wednesday night. For the season, the Lakers are 44-36 against the spread overall and 26-14 against the spread in home games.
LeBron James and Luka Doncic are proving to be a dominant pairing for the Lakers. James, who is probable for Friday’s game, is averaging 24.6 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.9 rebounds per game this season. Doncic is averaging 27.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game since being traded to the Lakers. See which team to back at SportsLine.
Why the Rockets can cover
The Rockets are coming off a blowout loss on Wednesday, but this is a team that is squarely focused on the upcoming NBA Playoffs. The Rockets have locked up the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, and have one of the deepest rosters in the entire league. For the season, Houston is 43-37 against the spread overall and 22-18 against the spread in road games.
Houston is one of the top defensive teams in the NBA, allowing an average of 109.2 points per game this season. Jalen Green has developed into one of the top young guards in the league for the Rockets. He enters Friday averaging 21.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. See which team to back at SportsLine.
How to make Rockets vs. Lakers picks
SportsLine’s model has simulated Lakers vs. Rockets 10,000 times and is leaning Under on the point total, projecting 216 combined points. The model also says one side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time. You can head to SportsLine now to see the model’s NBA picks.
So who wins Rockets vs. Lakers on Friday, and which side of the spread hits well over 60% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Lakers vs. Rockets spread to back, all from the model that has returned well over $10,000 on top-rated NBA picks, and find out.
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