There’s just one game on the slate tonight, with the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets facing off in Game 5. The Lakers currently hold a 3-1 lead in this series and can close out James Harden and Co. on Saturday.
Our staff breaks down their favorite NBA bets for today’s slate and where to find the most value in tonight’s matchup.
Saturday NBA Betting Picks
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Brandon Anderson: Rockets vs. Lakers
| Rockets odds | +6 [BET NOW] |
| Lakers odds | -6 [BET NOW] |
| Moneyline | +205/-250 [BET NOW] |
| Over/Under | 215.5 [BET NOW] |
| Time | 8 p.m. ET |
| TV | ESPN |
Have you seen the Rockets' the past two games? Honestly, they can’t set this line high enough. The Rockets are out of fuel. The Rockets are not prepared for liftoff. Houston, we have a whole bunch of problems. (Are you getting the picture yet?)
Some teams are worth betting on in a 1-3 hole. Other teams have James Harden. I’m a Harden defender, but the body language on him and Russell Westbrook is just miserable right now, and we’ve seen this movie play out before.
Houston had a must-win Game 3 and didn’t even try until the fourth quarter. The team went five consecutive quarters without any fast break or second chance points.
Nobody loves a good front run like LeBron James. He's not going to mess around out here. He’s already got the LA Clippers circled on his calendar, and he’d like a few days to relax and enjoy a night in the Magical Kingdom.
Between Harden, Westbrook, head coach Mike D’Antoni, and general manager Daryl Morey, this feels like the end of the era for at least two of those names, and I’d take the over on 2.5. I don’t see any fight in this team. Anthony Davis at center was the edge, Westbrook sucking pushed it further, and the Danuel House thing seemed to push them off the cliff.
They moved this line a whopping one point in LA’s favor? Nah, I'll alternate spread at extra odds. They can’t set this line high enough.
1-2-3, Magic City.
The Pick: Lakers -11.5 (+190)
[Bet the Lakers at DraftKings and get a $1,000 sign-up bonus.]
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Malik Smith: Rockets vs. Lakers
LeBron James flirted with a triple-double in Game 4 despite playing just 33 minutes and is averaging 26.3 points, 10.2 rebounds and nine assists per game in the playoffs. He already has two triple-doubles in the playoffs and fell one assist short twice over the past nine games.
Game 5 is an elimination game for the Rockets and James is projected to play 37.5 minutes in Saturday's matchup after the Lakers nearly blew a 19-point lead in the fourth quarter on Thursday. Our player props tool also projects James to have 9.4 assists and 10.2 rebounds.
This one is a bit of a dart throw, but it's a bit too tempting not to take a shot at another spectacular LeBron performance.
The Pick: LeBron James to get a triple-double (+295)
