The Houston Rockets (49-26) will visit the Los Angeles Lakers (45-29) in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 10 p.m. ET from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, California. The game will broadcast live on TNT.
The Lakers are 3.5-point favorites over the Rockets on the spread, with the over/under set at 225.5 total points. Los Angeles is a -170 favorite to win outright, while Houston is +140 to pull off the upset.
Let's get to my Rockets vs. Lakers predictions and NBA picks for Monday, March 31.
Rockets vs Lakers Prediction
My Lakers vs. Rockets best bet is on the Over at 225.5 total points, with the best odds currently available at Fanatics. But as always, make sure to shop for the best odds on our NBA odds page.
My Pick: Over 225.5
Rockets vs Lakers Odds, Spread, Picks
| Rockets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -110 | 225.5 -110o / -110u | +140 |
| Lakers Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -110 | 225.5 -110o / -110u | -170 |
- Rockets vs. Lakers spread: Lakers -3.5
- Rockets vs. Lakers over/under: 225.5 total points
- Rockets vs. Lakers moneyline: Rockets +140, Lakers -170
- Rockets vs. Lakers best bet: Over 225.5
Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA Preview
The Houston Rockets are starting to peak at the right time, heading into the playoffs. For much of the season, they've been widely regarded as a more defensive team, but recently, their offense is starting to round into form.
Over the last two weeks, the Rockets have boasted the third-best offense in the league with a 123.3 rating. Their confidence is growing, particularly from the perimeter, as they're shooting 38.6% — up from their season average of 35%.
One thing that's clear about Houston is that it's an excellent rebounding team. It leads the league in total rebounds (48.6) and on the offensive glass (14.8). However, the difference this time is that it's doing a much better job of converting those offensive rebounds into second-chance points.
During this recent run, the Rockets are averaging a league-best 22.9 second-chance points — five more than the second-ranked team in the category. There's a clear sign of growth for this Houston team, with a decent mix of young players and veterans.
Although the Rockets rank 10th in experience, with an average player age of 26.2 years, three of their five starters are 23 years or younger. As a result, there's almost a sense of coming of age, with so many of their young players looking to make that next step.
It's almost as if Rockets head coach Ime Udoka planned to solidify the team defensively before expanding on their offensive capabilities. We saw a similar scenario unfold in Boston during Udoka's brief stint with the Celtics.
The Over is on a 7-2-1 run in the Rockets' last 10 games, and I think the market still hasn't fully caught on to some of their offensive improvements. This current stretch of Overs isn't just limited to the Rockets, as the Lakers are also on a 7-3 run in their last 10 games.
Moreover, when the two teams last met in January, the total sailed over by 17 points. Houston won 119-115, and if we look at its recent form, it has won 12 of its last 13 games heading into this contest. The Rockets have now made their way into the top five of my power ratings, yet I still feel they're undervalued as five-point underdogs.
While my biggest edge for this game was on the total, my model still makes the point spread closer to a pick'em. As a result, I'll look to combine both outcomes in a same game parlay at +240 odds.
Lakers vs Rockets Betting Prediction
- Over 225.5 (-110)
Lakers vs Rockets Parlay Picks
- Rockets +4
- Over 225.5
Parlay Payout: +240
