The NBA playoffs are underway, even if all of the Los Angeles Lakers aren’t ready.
The banged up Lakers managed to hang on to home court for the first round of the playoffs, but head into their playoff-opening series against Houston without superstar Luka Doncic as well as Austin Reaves.
The Rockets finished one game behind the Lakers in the regular season, but come into this healthy, led by Kevin Durant and as such are widely predicted to win the series. Should the Lakers overcome the odds and pull the home-court upset, there is a chance Doncic could return later in the playoffs, but he seems likely to miss this best-of-seven series.
It begins Saturday in Los Angeles, the final game of the playoff-opening quadruple header.
Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets NBA playoffs schedule, TV information
Lakers injury report
Luka Doncic is out indefinitely with a Grade 2 hamstring strain. He is out for Game 1 and his return for this series is doubtful. Austin Reaves is out with a Grade 2 oblique strain and is not expected back for this series.
Los Angeles Lakers record
The Lakers finished the regular season 53-29.
Houston Rockets injury report
The Rockets are healthy.
Houston Rockets record
The Houston Rockets finished the regular season 52-30.
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets odds
From BetMGM.com
Game 1: Rockets -5 1/2. Over/under 207 1/2. Moneyline Houston -225 Los Angeles Lakers +185.
Series: Rockets -650, Lakers +475
Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets predictions
The Arizona Republic: Rockets win series vs Lakers in six games
Jeremy Cluff writes: “This season could have been a classic with a healthy Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. We still think that it will be interesting, but the Rockets will have too much firepower in the end against the Lakers.”
CBS Sports: All six writers predict Rockets will win series vs Lakers
Every writer has the Rockets losing to the Thunder in the second round of the NBA playoffs.
NBA.com: Rockets will win series vs Lakers in five games
John Schuhmannwrites: “The Rockets would be a legit pick to win this series if the Lakers were healthy. Statistically, Houston has been the much better team, outscoring opponents by 5.4 points per 100 possessions, the league’s sixth best mark and more than three times better than the Lakers’ differential (plus-1.5 per 100). It’s a very similar situation as last year, when the Lakers were the 3 seed and lost to the sixth-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves, who had the much better point differential in the regular season (plus-5.0 vs. plus-1.2 per 100 possessions). With the status of Dončić and Reaves in doubt, it becomes a much easier pick. Houston has multiple defenders to keep James somewhat in check, but the Lakers could struggle to stop both Durant and Sengun.”
Sports Betting Dime: Bet the Rockets to take series in five games vs Lakers
Sascha Paruk writes: “When the Lakers miss shots, they’ll have an immensely difficult time getting second chances. The Rockets finished the regular season with the best REB% in the NBA (54.5%) while the Lakers were just 13th (49.8%). Houston’s 54.5 REB% is the highest ever in a single season since the NBA started tracking it in 1996-97. Only one other team (2014-15 OKC) had a REB% over 54%. The Lakers might squeak out a game, but it’s hard to see this depleted roster taking more than one against a Houston team that’s playing like a title contender.”
The Athletic: Rockets will take series vs Lakers, 4-2
Dan Woike writes: “There are paths for the Lakers to win this series if they can figure out how to get into their offense, but the Rockets’ biggest strength — their perimeter size and athleticism — matches up favorably against a Lakers team without its starting backcourt. LeBron can get them across the finish line a couple times, but probably not four.”
Odds Shark: Bet the Lakers to win series vs Rockets
Nick Holz writes: “I’m surprised to see this number so high, especially with how wonky Houston’s offense looked for much of the season. Sure, the Rockets finished the year on a 9-1 SU run, with the second-highest offensive rating in the league in that stretch. However, six of those games came against the likes of Memphis (x2), New Orleans, Milwaukee, Utah, and Golden State – teams who were either tanking or with little to play for down the stretch. Can bettors truly trust Houston’s discombobulated offense to repeat those numbers against postseason competition, in a slower-paced and far more physical environment?”
ESPN: 11 of 12 writers predict Rockets will win series vs Lakers
Marc J. Spears picks the Laker in six, while every other writer has the Rockets winning the series.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Lakers schedule, TV for NBA playoffs
Reporting by Bret Bloomquist, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
