Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets Prediction & Picks : Full Breakdown & Bets

As the Lakers gear up to face the Rockets, targeting Marcus Smart for under 1.5 threes made seems like a savvy play. Sure, he's had some moments, but his recent form paints a different picture. In his last five games, he's averaging just 0.6 threes overall and 1.4 at home, which, while decent, doesn't quite get him to that pivotal mark. When facing the Rockets, Smart has only managed 1.2 threes on average, and at home, that dips to an even lower 1. With his historical hit rate showing he's gone under this number in four of his last five games at home, it's clear that expectations should be tempered. The Lakers' defense is formidable, and with the spotlight likely on other offensive weapons, Smart may find it hard to find his rhythm from beyond the arc. This makes the under a compelling choice.

Amen Thompson (Houston Rockets) Under 7.5 Rebounds (-101)

As the Houston Rockets travel to face the Lakers, all eyes will be on Amen Thompson, especially when it comes to his rebounding numbers. While Thompson has shown flashes of brilliance, he's been averaging just 7.2 rebounds over his last five games, and notably, his away performance dips slightly to 7.8. Against the Lakers, who are no strangers to dominating the boards, Thompson's average drops significantly to 7 when playing away. Coupling this with the Lakers' strong defensive presence, it's easy to see why we're leaning toward the under on 7.5 rebounds. With an expected stat value of 6.7, we're banking on him falling short against a formidable Los Angeles squad that will look to control the glass, making the under on Thompson's rebounding prop a compelling play.