Two days after blowing out the Rockets in Houston, Los Angeles (8-3 SU, 5-6 ATS) looks to do it again in Tuesday’s rematch. The Rockets (3-5, 3-5) have lost the last five meetings dating back to last summer’s playoffs and opened as 4-point home underdogs.
- Date/Time: January 12, 8 p.m. ET
- Arena: Toyota Center
- TV Coverage: NBA TV
- Sportsbook Odds: Lakers -4 | O/U 224 (Line History)
- Lakers vs Rockets Matchup Report
Sportsbook Odds Analysis
Oddsmakers didn’t have to do much research when setting the openers, making the spread and total identical to the closing betting lines for the Lakers’ 120-102 victory Sunday. Bettors were quick to pounce on the visitors, moving the spread to -6 as of Tuesday morning.
Los Angeles News & Notes
A few days after criticizing the Lakers’ defensive effort following a home loss to San Antonio, Anthony Davis had to be happy with what he saw in Sunday’s rout of the Rockets.
Looking more like the NBA’s third-ranked defense, LA forced 21 turnovers, recorded eight blocks and held Houston to its second-lowest scoring output of the young season. The Lakers also went UNDER the total for the eighth time in their last nine contests.
Davis returned from a groin strain to score 27 points in 29 minutes and LeBron James played through a sore ankle for the Lakers, who also got Kentavious Caldwell-Pope back in the lineup after a four-game absence.
But the biggest story of the night offensively for LA might have been the 17 points from second-year wing Talen Horton-Tucker, who added five rebounds, three assists and four steals in 20 minutes of action. Horton-Tucker has emerged as a nice option off the bench for coach Frank Vogel, averaging 8.1 points in 16.9 minutes this season and shooting 48.4 percent from the field.
Houston News & Notes
Transition defense killed the Rockets on Sunday as LA outscored Houston 32-7 off the fast break, causing first-year coach Stephen Silas to call out his team for not hustling back. Houston’s 21 turnovers were a big part of the problem, leading to 30 of the Lakers’ 120 points.
Houston might be without two of its top scorers Tuesday as point guard John Wall and sixth man Eric Gordon were both listed as questionable as of Monday night. Wall, who had 14 points and 10 rebounds in 34 minutes on Sunday, is battling migraine issues while Gordon is dealing with lower leg tightness that may explain why he’s scored just three field goals in his last two games.
James Harden is also struggling badly with his three-point shot since returning from a sprained right ankle, shooting 27.3 percent from behind the arc in his last four games. Houston has scored 102 points or less in three of its last five outings, going 4-0-1 to the UNDER during that stretch.
The most consistent scorer for the Rockets this season has been Christian Wood, who scored 23 points in 31 minutes Sunday and has scored at least 20 points in all seven of his appearances.
Betting Pick: UNDER 223
These rivals have gone UNDER in four straight clashes and there’s potential for even more defensive intensity in the second meeting in three days.
- The UNDER has hit in 8 of the Lakers’ last 9 games.
- Houston is 3-9 ATS in its last 12 games.
- The Lakers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games vs Houston.
