Having won both games in Southern California to open the series against the Rockets, Lebron James and the Lakers can take a stranglehold of their 2026 NBA first-round playoff series tonight in Game 3.
Minus Luka Doncic (hamstring) and Austin Reaves (oblique) the Lakers were actually the underdog in those first two games, but their defense has suffocated the Rockets especially on the perimeter. Kevin Durant and co. shot just 24% from deep (7-29) while the Lakers shot 46% (13-28).
In the absence of his high-profile running mates, LeBron James has turned back the clock averaging 23.5 points along with eight rebounds and ten assists. The revelation has been Luke Kennard who leads the Lakers with an average of 25 points per game.
No question the Rockets are falling short of expectations. Yes, Durant is struggling with a knee injury, but the offense has showcased a ridiculous lack of rhythm and imagination. Head Coach Ime Udoka has to be on the hot seat as he has found no answers against an undermanned Lakers’ team.
Note to remember: The Lakers have won 32 straight series after winning the first game of a playoff series, which is the longest streak in NBA history.
Lets take a closer look at tonight’s matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
We’ve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy of DraftKings recent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
After 24 years, the NBA is back on NBC and Peacock, combining the nostalgia of an iconic era with the innovative future of basketball coverage. The NBA on NBC YouTube channel delivers fans must-see highlights, analysis, and exclusive and unique content.
Game Details and How to Watch Live: Lakers vs. Rockets
-
Date: Friday, April 24, 2026
-
Network/Streaming: Prime Video
Rotoworld has you covered with all the latest NBA Player News for all 30 teams. Check out the feed page right here on NBC Sports for headlines, injuries and transactions where you can filter by league, team, positions and news type!
Game Odds: Lakers vs. Rockets
The latest odds as of Friday courtesy of DraftKings:
This game opened Rockets -9.5 with the Game Total set at 205.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Expected Starting Lineups: Lakers vs. Rockets
Los Angeles Lakers
Houston Rockets
Injury Report: Lakers vs. Rockets
Los Angeles Lakers
-
Luka Doncic (hamstring) is listed as doubtful for tonight’s game
-
Austin Reaves (oblique) is listed as doubtful for tonight’s game
Houston Rockets
-
Kevin Durant (knee) is questionable for tonight’s game
-
Steven Adams (ankle) has been declared OUT of tonight’s game
Important stats, trends and insights: Lakers vs. Rockets
-
The Lakers are 30-13 at home this season
-
The Rockets are 22-21 on the road this season
-
The Lakers are 47-36-1 ATS this season
-
Houston is 36-48 ATS this season
-
The OVER has cashed in 39 of the Rockets’ 84 games this season (39-45)
-
The OVER has cashed in 42 of the Lakers’ 84 games this season (42-42)
-
Marcus Smart was 5-7 from 3-point range in Game 2
-
Reed Shepherd scored not one point in Game 2 going 0-7 from the field
-
The Lakers got just 6 points from their bench in Game 2 (all 6 from Jaxson Hayes)
Rotoworld Best Bet
Please bet responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.
Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for Friday’s Lakers and Rockets game:
-
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is staying away from a play on the Moneyline
-
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Lakers +8.5 ATS
-
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total UNDER 206.5
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on today’s calendar!
If you’re looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out our NBA Top Trends tool on NBC Sports!
Follow our experts on socials to keep up with all the latest content from the staff:
-
Jay Croucher (@croucherJD)
-
Drew Dinsick (@whale_capper)
-
Vaughn Dalzell (@VmoneySports)
-
Trysta Krick (@Trysta_Krick)
Read the full article here