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NBA: Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets Betting Preview



The NBA is back and we’ve got a great one tonight as the Playoff chasing Los Angeles Lakers look to get their first win of the season against James Harden and the Houston Rockets!


Los Angeles Lakers


The Lakers did not enter all-star break like they would’ve wanted to after dropping back to back games to Philadelphia and Atlanta in which they looked beyond dreadful and that has put them below .500 (28-29) for the first time since November mainly due to the fact that players have been in and out of the squad with injuries, trade rumours have also affected the squad too. However, there is still 25 games for the Lakers and with LeBron announcing that he going to activate his “playoff form” mode, the team finally getting healthy and trade rumours out of the way for this season we can only expect this team to make a one final push for the Playoffs. The Lakers are currently 3 games behind 8th so the time is ticking and winning against Houston would definitely be a good start.


Injury News


Josh Hart – Probable to Play


Mike Muscala – Probable to Play


Tyson Chandler – Questionable


Lonzo Ball – OUT


 


Houston Rockets


Houston Rockets are currently 5th in the West, despite all the injuries to key players, James Harden mainly has been able to hold it down for the Rockets with his 31 consecutive 30 point games, streak that is still intact. Houston seem to be primed to make a huge run towards the end of the year, with CP3 back, Capela soon to be back, maybe even tonight and with additions like Faried, Rivers, Shumpert it seems like Houston might be even deeper this year than last and during the final stretch expect this team to get really going. They may not get the top 2 seeds, but gaining home court advantage in the 1st round is definitely one of Houston’s priority right now. This season they’ve been able to beat the Lakers every time as they’re 3-0 against them, all 3 games went down the wire but thanks to James Harden’s ridiculous closing in all 3, Houston have been able to get one up over LA every time. Lakers is one of James Harden’s favourite opponents so we’re likely going to see him get another 30 at least tonight.


Injury News


Clint Capela – Expected to Play


Austin Rivers – Probable to Play


Iman Shumpert – OUT


Betting Stats


Totals


Lakers are god awful at covering total point overs at Home this season at just 22.2% (6-1-20) which is the worst in the league in general. Total for tonight’s game is 232.5 and the Lakers have had this exact total just once before against the Pelicans which resulted with an under in a 112-104 win.


Rockets are also pretty poor at covering total point overs on the road, a little better but not too good at 42.8% (12-2-14). They’ve not had a 232.5 point total on the road this season but the closest they’ve been to it was 231 points total against Minnesota which ended with an over by 1 point in a 121-111 loss.


Handicaps


Lakers are pretty bad at covering Handicaps at home too at just 37% (10-17). Lakers are 3 point underdogs against Houston and the closest they’ve been to being 3 point underdogs was actually against Houston earlier this season at home where they were 3.5 point underdogs which they failed to cover losing 115-124. Lakers are 1-6 at covering Handicaps as home underdogs this season.


Rockets are quite terrible at covering Handicaps on the road themselves at just 35.7% (10-2-16). Rockets have been 3 point favourites on the road FIVE times before which was against Minnesota, Sacramento, New Orleans, Dallas and San Antonio covering 3 of those 5 Handicaps, also have had a -3.5 Handicap 3 times before covering 2 of those 3 so they’re at least alright at being that at least covering 3/3.5 point favourite Handicaps on the road.


Recent H2H in Los Angeles


It’s been all Houston in LA in recent years, they’ve won in 9 of their last 10 visits against the Lakers in LA.


Most recently, as mentioned before Houston beat the Lakers at the start of this season in LA 124-115 in a game that was mostly remember by the fight that broke out between Ingram, Paul and Rondo. In that game Houston covered a -3.5 Handicap and total 237.5 points resulted with an Over ironically as neither team is actually good at overs this season when LA are at home and Houston are on the road.


 


TIP OFF – 22nd February 2019 – 3:30am UK Time

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