The Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers are all set to begin an intriguing second-round series in the 2020 NBA Playoffs this coming Friday. The Rockets will play in the series opener on short rest, unlike the Lakers who will have the fresher legs in the series opener. Check out our preview of this game below.
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Betting Preview for the Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA Playoffs Round 2 Game 1 September 4, 2020
Where: Walt Disney World, Orlando
When: Friday, September 4, 2020, 9:00 PM ET
Line: Houston Rockets (+6.5) vs Los Angeles Lakers (-6.5) – view all 2020 NBA lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Houston Rockets (+6.5)
Regular Season Record: 44-28
The Rockets survived a tough challenge from the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round. Houston took seven games to send the Thunder home, and now, the Rockets will have to put their small-ball tactic to the test again against the Lakers. Although missing a legitimate big man in their regular rotation, the Rockets have managed to do well in the regular season and in the playoffs thus far largely because of their reliance on the three-ball. In fact, the Rockets are tops among all playoff teams with 18.3 3-pointers per game on 35.9 percent shooting. They are also the only team in the playoffs shooting over 50 3-point attempts per contest. The last time the Rockets met the Lakers, Houston went 21 for 57 from deep in a 113-97 win in the bubble last August. Last February, the Rockets also defeated the Lakers on the road, 121-111, on the strength of a 45.2 3-point shooting percentage (19-42).
The under is 3-0 in the Rockets’ last three games.
Betting on the Los Angeles Lakers (-6.5)
Regular Season Record: 52-19
LA Lakers Betting Guide: View here (it’s free!)
LeBron James and the Lakers rolled into the second round of the playoffs after edging the Portland Trail Blazers in the previous round. Outside of their Game 1 loss, the Lakers were never threatened seriously in that series, as James and Anthony Davis took turns punishing Portland. Unlike the Blazers, who featured a lot of their twin tower combo of Jusuf Nurkic and Hassan Whiteside, the Rockets will offer almost nothing in terms of size in the middle for the Lakers. The expectation is that Davis will have a field day dominating the paint against Houston. In the two games he played against the Rockets in the regular season, Davis averaged 24.5 points and shot 65,5 percent from the field. He also averaged 12.5 rebounds in those games. James, on the other hand, put up 24.5 points, 13.5 assists, and 7.0 rebounds in two games against Houston before the playoffs.
The Lakers are 3-1 against the spread in their last four games.
Writer’s Prediction
The Lakers win, 122-119.
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