Lakers vs Rockets Game 1 Odds and Picks
- After beating the OKC Thunder on Wednesday night in Game 7, the Houston Rockets will now face the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Semifinals
- The Lakers enter this contest as -188 favorites
- Who’s the best bet for Game 1 on Friday? Get the odds, preview, and best bet below
After beating the Portland Trail Blazers 4-1 in the Western Conference Quarterfinals, the Los Angeles Lakers will now face the Houston Rockets in the next round, which will get started on Friday, September 4th, tip-off 9 PM EST.
The Rockets actually won the season series against the Lakers, taking two of three. Houston finds themselves at this point after just edging out the Thunder in Game 7 thriller on Wednesday night to advance.
The last time these two organizations met in the playoffs was way back in 2009, when the Lakers beat the Rockets in seven games in the Western Conference Semifinals as well, eventually going on to win it all that season.
Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets Game 1 Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Total Points at FanDuel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Lakers | -4.5 (-110) | -188 | Un 225.5 (-110) |
| Houston Rockets | +4.5 (-110) | +158 | Ov 225.5 (-110) |
Odds taken September 3rd
The latest Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Lakers Odds favor Frank Vogel’s team at an -188 moneyline.
No Easy Task Ahead for LeBron & Co.
James was outstanding against the Blazers, averaging a triple-double of 27.4 points, 10.2 rebounds and 10.2 assists. Davis was even better at times, dropping 29.8 points per night while also collecting 9.4 boards.
With the size of the Lakers frontline they will look to take advantage of Houston’s lack of size. However, both of their losses to the Rockets this season were without any big men on the floor for Mike D’Antoni’s team, so it will be vital that the Lakers’ defense to shut down the likes of Harden and Westbrook.
Rajon Rondo is hopeful for Game 1 on Friday for LA after missing the entire first round with a fractured hand and back issues.
If they’re able to get past the Rockets in this series, it’ll most likely set up a Western Conference Final against the Clippers, who are playing the Denver Nuggets.
Houston Looking for the Upset
There’s no doubt the Lakers would have rather played the Thunder, as Westbrook and Harden are a formidable duo despite their Game 6 and 7 struggles.
Although Harden put up solid offensive numbers, he did struggle from downtown, shooting just 30.8% from the three-point line.
The 31-year old will need to be more productive from the perimeter if the Rockets want any chance of making this an interesting series.
Although Westbrook is an electric athlete who can do some exciting things on the hardwood, he turned the ball over far too many times against the Thunder. With a team that lacks size, it will be important that these two bring their best in every single game against LA if D’Antoni’s squad wants any chance of pulling off the upset.
Best Bet
Los Angeles comes into this contest very well-rested, while the Rockets are extremely drained after OKC took them the distance. They will only have one day of rest before starting this series, so I’m giving the Lakers the advantage in Game 1, with LeBron and AD both enjoying huge games. They’re currently 4.5-point favorites, but I believe they will comfortably cover the spread on Friday night.
Pick: Lakers -4.5 (-110)
Quinn Allen is a sports journalist, with a background and education in broadcast journalism (BCIT '17). He is a full-time associate editor at ClutchPoints by day, where he writes about soccer, baseball, basketball, football, and more. At night, Quinn is a frequent contributor at SBD.
