Rockets vs Lakers Prediction Free NBA Picks 4/2

© Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Game Preview: Lakers vs Rockets

The Los Angeles Lakers will square off against the Houston Rockets in a Western Conference matchup on April 2, 2023. As the NBA playoffs approach, both teams will be looking to secure their spot in the postseason. NBA picks experts, computer NBA picks, and NBA picks emp predictions are in high demand for this game, as it promises to be a thrilling battle between these two competitive teams. The Rockets (19-59, 15th in the Western Conference) are led by Alperen Sengun, who is averaging 14.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists for the team. Houston ranks fifth in the Western Conference with 54.5 points per game in the paint, thanks in large part to Sengun's performance. On the other side of the court, the Lakers (39-38, seventh in the Western Conference) are led by Anthony Davis. Davis is averaging 24.8 points and 11.3 rebounds while shooting 58.9% over the last 10 games for Los Angeles. The Lakers are six in the Western Conference, scoring 116.5 points per game and shooting 48.0%. The two teams have faced off twice this season, with the Rockets winning the most recent meeting 114-110 on March 16. In that game, Kevin Porter Jr. led the Rockets with 27 points, while Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 24 points. NBA picks and parlay predictions, as well as NBA experts' picks today and best NBA bets today, will be instrumental in determining the outcome of this game. The Rockets are 11-39 against Western Conference opponents, while the Lakers are 23-24. It promises to be a thrilling contest, and NBA picks with spread and NBA picks for today will be hotly contested as the game approaches.

Lakers: Offensive Analysis

The Los Angeles Lakers will face off against the Houston Rockets in a Western Conference matchup, and the Lakers' offensive performance will be critical to securing a win. According to NBA Picks Experts and Computer NBA Picks Emp Predictions, the Lakers are favored to win this game. The Lakers are currently ranked 9th in points per game in the Western Conference, averaging 116.5 points per game. They will need a strong offensive performance to beat the Rockets, who have struggled defensively this season. The Rockets rank 28th in opponent points per game, allowing an average of 118.8 points per game. LeBron James and Anthony Davis will need to lead the Lakers' offense if they hope to win this game. James is averaging 29 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game, while Davis is averaging 24.8 points and 11.3 rebounds per game over the last 10 games. Their scoring will be critical to the Lakers' success. The Lakers have been shooting the ball well this season, averaging a 48.0% shooting percentage, which ranks 11th in the Western Conference. They will need to continue this trend against the Rockets, who rank 29th in effective field goal percentage allowed. Overall, the Lakers' offense has been solid this season, but they will need to step up their performance against the Rockets to secure a win. NBA Picks and Parlays and NBA Experts Picks both forecast a win for the Lakers, but they will need a strong offensive outing to make that prediction a reality.

Lakers: Defensive Analysis

The Los Angeles Lakers are heading into their game against the Houston Rockets with the seventh-best scoring defense in the Western Conference, allowing an average of 116.5 points per game. However, they have continued to improve defensively over their last ten games, holding opponents to an average of 111.1 points per game and forcing an average of 7.2 steals and 3.7 blocks per game. The Lakers have a strong defensive presence in Anthony Davis, who is averaging 1.8 blocks and 1.3 steals per game over the season. He has also been on fire over the last ten games, shooting 58.9% from the field and averaging 11.3 rebounds per game. LeBron James also brings a solid defensive game to the court, averaging 1.1 steals and 0.6 blocks per game. The Lakers' defensive efforts will need to focus on shutting down the Rockets' top performers, Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green. Sengun is averaging 14.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, while Green has been averaging 23.6 points over his last ten games. The Lakers will need to focus on defending the paint, as the Rockets rank fifth in the Western Conference with 54.5 points per game in the paint. The Lakers have been successful in this area, allowing only 52.5 points per game in the paint by their opponents. Overall, the Lakers' defensive efforts have been strong throughout the season, and they will need to continue to bring that same intensity against the Rockets to come away with a win. The Lakers' solid defense combined with their offensive prowess makes them a strong pick for NBA picks experts and NBA picks computer predictions.

Rockets: Offense Analysis

The Houston Rockets have had a difficult season, currently sitting at 15th in the Western Conference with a record of 19-59. However, they have some promising young talent that could help them improve in the future. In this game, they will be hosting the Los Angeles Lakers, who are currently seventh in the Western Conference with a record of 39-38. The Rockets' offense has struggled this season, ranking 29th in the league in points per game with just 110.5. Their effective field goal percentage is also among the lowest in the league at 51.6%. In addition, they have struggled with turnovers, averaging 16.3 turnovers per game. Rookie Alperen Sengun has been a bright spot for the Rockets, averaging 14.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. Jalen Green has also been impressive, averaging 23.6 points over the last 10 games. The Lakers, on the other hand, have a solid offense, ranking ninth in the league in points per game with 116.5. They also shoot well from the field, averaging 48.0% and have a high free throw rate of 0.301. LeBron James has been leading the way for the Lakers, averaging 29 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game. Anthony Davis has also been playing well, averaging 24.8 points and 11.3 rebounds while shooting 58.9% over the last 10 games. Overall, the Rockets will need to improve their offensive efficiency and limit turnovers if they hope to compete with the Lakers. The Lakers' offense is strong, and they have two of the best players in the league in James and Davis. The Rockets will need their young talent to step up and help carry the load on the offensive end of the floor. When it comes to NBAPicks, experts and computer predictions are likely favoring the Lakers in this matchup. It will be interesting to see how the Rockets' offense performs and if they can pull off an upset against the playoff-bound Lakers.

Rockets: Defensive Analysis

In the upcoming NBA game between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets, the Rockets' defense will play a crucial role in determining the outcome of the game. Despite their poor overall record this season, the Rockets have shown flashes of defensive excellence that could trouble the Lakers. As per NBA picks experts and predictions, the Rockets rank 16th in the league in defensive rating, allowing 113.1 points per 100 possessions. However, they have improved in recent games, including holding the Utah Jazz to just 95 points in a surprising win. One of the keys to the Rockets' defensive success has been their ability to force turnovers. They rank fifth in the league in turnover percentage (14.9%) and third in steals per game (8.0). Led by Kevin Porter Jr. and Jae'Sean Tate, the Rockets have a number of active and aggressive defenders who can disrupt opposing offenses. Another area where the Rockets have been solid defensively is in limiting opponents' three-point shooting. They allow the third-lowest percentage from beyond the arc (34.3%) and are ninth in three-point attempts allowed per game (31.0). This could be crucial against a Lakers team that struggles from beyond the arc. However, the Rockets do have some weaknesses on defense, particularly in defending the paint. They allow 50.9 points per game in the paint, which is the eighth-highest mark in the league. This could be an issue against the Lakers' strong interior players, including Anthony Davis and LeBron James. Overall, the Rockets' defense has the potential to give the Lakers some problems, particularly if they can force turnovers and limit three-point shooting. However, they will need to be more consistent in their defensive efforts to have a chance at pulling off the upset. NBA picks and predictions may be in favor of the Lakers, but the Rockets will be looking to buck the odds with a strong defensive performance.

Injury Report

Both the Lakers and the Rockets have key players listed on their injury report for this game. Jae'Sean Tate is out for the Rockets due to a knee injury, while Mo Bamba will be out for the Lakers due to an ankle injury. The absence of these players may impact their respective teams' performances in the game. However, with Anthony Davis and LeBron James leading the Lakers and Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green stepping up for the Rockets, both teams have capable players to make up for the missing pieces. It will be interesting to see how these injuries affect the outcome of the game.

Betting Trends Analysis:

The Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets are both struggling teams this season. The Lakers are currently in seventh place in the Western Conference, while the Rockets are in last place. Looking at the betting trends, the Lakers have been favored by the sportsbooks in most of their recent games. They have also been performing well against the spread, covering in six of their last ten games. On the other hand, the Rockets have been underdogs in most of their recent games and have only covered in three of their last ten games. In terms of totals, the Lakers have been trending towards the under in their recent games, with the under hitting in seven of their last ten games. The Rockets, on the other hand, have been trending towards the over in their recent games, with the over hitting in six of their last ten games. When it comes to computer predictions and expert picks, the majority are siding with the Lakers to win this game. It's also worth noting that the Lakers have won both of their previous matchups against the Rockets this season. Overall, the Lakers seem to be the stronger team in this matchup, and the betting trends and expert predictions are reflecting that. However, bettors should also consider the recent trends in total points and the Rockets' potential for an upset.

NBA Game Prediction: Los Angeles Lakers vs. Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets will host the Los Angeles Lakers in a Western Conference matchup on Sunday. Both teams have struggled this season, but the Rockets have had a particularly difficult time as they currently sit 15th in the conference with a record of 19-59. The Lakers, on the other hand, are seventh in the conference with a record of 39-38.

Despite their struggles, both teams have some standout performers. The Rockets' Alperen Sengun is averaging 14.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game, while Jalen Green has been averaging 23.6 points over the last 10 games. For the Lakers, LeBron James is averaging 29 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game, while Anthony Davis has been averaging 24.8 points and 11.3 rebounds while shooting 58.9% over the last 10 games.

In terms of stats, the Lakers have the edge in scoring with 116.5 points per game, while the Rockets are averaging just 110.5. However, the Rockets rank fifth in the conference with 54.5 points per game in the paint, led by Sengun's average of 11.0.

The teams have faced each other twice already this season, with the Rockets winning the last meeting on March 16 by a score of 114-110. However, the Lakers have performed better in recent games, winning six of their last 10 compared to the Rockets' three wins.

Overall, the Lakers are favored to win this game with a spread of -5.5. However, with the Rockets' solid performance in the paint and the Lakers' tendency to struggle on the road, this game could be closer than expected. As such, I would pick the Houston Rockets (+11) in this matchup.

Pick: Rockets +5.5