NBA Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets Preview and Prediction

Date/Time: 12-13-2018, 20:00 EDT

Spread: Houston Rockets -5

Total: +223

In this battle between two Western conference teams with playoff hopes for the season but only once achieving them so far, the Los Angeles Lakers, looking to extend their winning streak, are visiting the disappointing so far Houston Rockets, who want to turn their latest victory into a streak and climb up from the bottom of the West.

Lakers are 17-10 so far in the league and are tied with the Los Angeles Clippers in the fourth place of the Western conference. They are 6-1 in their last 7 games and in their latest matchup they were victorious against Miami at home, 108-105. Rockets are 12-14 so far in the league and are tied with Minnesota in the 13^th place of the Western conference. In their latest matchup they ended a 3-game defeat streak with a home victory against Portland, 111-104.

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LA are led in scoring by LeBron James with 28.3 ppg. He also leads the team both in assists with 7.1 and rebounding with 7.7 per game, while Kyle Kuzma follows with 17.9 ppg, adding 5.8 rebounds per game. Brandon Ingram adds 15.2 ppg and 4 rebounds. Houston are led in scoring by James Harden with 30 ppg. He also adds 5.3 rebounds and leads the team in assists made with 8.1 per game, while Clint Capela follows with 17.4 ppg and leads the team in rebounding with 11.6 per game. Chris Paul adds 16.4 ppg, 4.6 rebounds and 8 assists per game.

In their latest matchup previously this season Houston were victorious on the road by 9 points. Houston are 6-5 at home so far, while LA are 6-6 on the road. LA have a better offense with 113.1 ppg to Houston’s 108.4, while Houston have a better defense, allowing 109.5 ppg to LA’s 110.9. LA have a better accuracy both from the field, shooting with 47.4% to Houston’s 44.8% and from behind the arc, shooting with 35% to Houston’s 33.6%. Lakers also grab more rebounds (46.6 to 41) and dish more assists per game (23.9 to 21.1), while Houston commit fewer turnovers per game (13.9 to 15.3). LA have been hot lately and expect them to have an easy evening on the road against an ineffective so far this season Houston squad.

Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers +5 (-106)