Lakers vs Rockets Predictions, Picks & Injuries (Game 4)

• The LA Lakers look for a series sweep in Houston against the Rockets Sunday
• Kevin Durant (ankle) has missed two games in this series, and is questionable for Game 4
• Read below for the latest Lakers vs Rockets odds, injury update and my expert prediction

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Basketball pundits were predicting a quick series between the LA Lakers (53-29, 25-16 away) and the Houston Rockets (52-30, 30-11 home), but not quite like this.

LA, who have been without NBA leading scorer Luka Doncic and the team’s leading scorer Austin Reaves, will have the brooms out Sunday, looking for a sweep on the road.

The books have Houston putting up a fight in their last stand, setting them as healthy home favorites in the NBA odds.

The first elimination game in Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs goes Sunday night at 9:30pm ET, from the Toyota Center in H-Town, with NBA and Peacock carrying the live broadcast.

Lakers vs Rockets Odds

The graphic above shows the best available odds, which are subject to change

Despite having won all three games in this series, the Lakers find themselves a +160 underdogs on the moneyline, and 5.5-point underdogs on the spread at bet365.

Houston is a short -180 on the moneyline to win outright at FanDuel, while set as 4.5-point favorites against the spread at DraftKings.

The total is set at 207.5 points, with the Over getting -105 odds at DK, while the Under pays out at -110 at bet365.

Lakers vs Rockets Prediction

• Pick: Lakers +5.5 (-110 at bet365)

We know the end is near for LeBron James, but his performance through three games of this year’s playoffs shows that, despite his advanced age, he can still get it done.

James has been by far the best player on the floor in the series, averaging 25.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 8.7 assists, while shooting 47.4% from the field.

He’s getting monster sidekick performance from veteran Marcus Smart, who is averaging 20.3 points on 52.9% shooting, including 8-for-16 from 3-point range, a crisp 50% clip, while dishing out 8.3 assists.

Where the Lakers are really dominating is defense, as they have held the Rockets to 100 points per game in the series, putting them sub-100 for two games.

The Rockets are shooting an abysmal 39.6% from the field — failing to take advantage of the 63 more field goal attempts than LA in the series — and an even worse 28.7% from 3-point range. Both are, by far, the worst marks in the playoffs.

Without Kevin Durant, who missed Game 3 with an ankle sprain, after missing Game 1 with a sore knee, the Rockets look lost, as they started the second-youngest lineup in a playoff game since the stat was tracked back to 1970-71.

That had to have played a role in their Game 3 collapse, losing a 6-point lead with 30 seconds to play, to eventually fall 112-108 in OT. Jabari Smith Jr threw a horrible pass that was picked by Marcus Smart, who was fouled by Jae’Sean Tate for the 3-point line.

Then Reed Sheppard was stripped by James, who eventually nailed the game-tying three and sending a collective gasp through the Toyota Center.

Even if KD is a go (more on that below) there are some discouraging signs for the Rockets. On the season, they are just 16-23-0 against the spread as a home favorite, the third worst mark in the league and worst of any team in the playoffs.

They are also just 15-17-0 ATS following a loss.

LA might not win, but if they lose, it’s going down to the wire.

Lakers vs Rockets Injury Report

There’s been a lot of basketball chatter about Kevin Durant both missing the game with the ankle injury, but then not being on the bench for his team in Game 3. The Rockets said he was in the building but receiving treatment during the game.

Durant is listed as questionable for Sunday. Head coach Ime Udoka said KD is getting treatment around the clock, and the swelling on the ankle has come down.

For the Lakers, Luka Doncic (hamstring) remains out with no timetable yet for return, though Reaves, who is dealing with an oblique injury, has been upgraded to questionable for Game 4.

Reaves hasn’t played since April 2 in LA’s blowout loss to OKC.