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Los Angeles Lakers: Betting picks for second game vs. Houston Rockets

By Jason Reed

HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 10: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers in action against the Houston Rockets during a game at Toyota Center on January 10, 2021 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TEXAS - JANUARY 10: LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers in action against the Houston Rockets during a game at Toyota Center on January 10, 2021 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images) /
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The Los Angeles Lakers look to defeat the Houston Rockets for the second consecutive game.

The Los Angeles Lakers are currently riding a two-game winning streak and have an 8-2 record on the year. The Lakers can make it three wins in a row on Tuesday night with a second consecutive win over the Houston Rockets.

The Lakers bested the Rockets on Sunday, 120-102, in what was a relatively easy win for the purple and gold. Anthony Davis led the Lakers in scoring with 27 points and it the outcome of the game was never really questioned.

This is the first leg of a back-to-back for the purple and gold as they will be on the road to take on the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. After that, the Lakers will return home to host the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday.

As part of Sunday’s episode of the Lake Show Life Podcast, I picked against both the spread and the point total for the game on Thursday. I took Lakers -2.5 and over 222.5 points, which is unfortunate, as the final point tally was 222. My record on the year is now 10-8. 

According to the BetMGM lines on the Action Network, the Lakers head into this contest as 5.5-point favorites with the total going up a point to 223.5.

My picks: Houston Rockets +5.5, over 223.5 (Final score: Houston Rockets 118, Los Angeles Lakers 115)

Back on Sunday’s episode, I predicted that the Lakers would win game one by a decent margin (although I did not predict an 18-point margin) and that would swing the line farther in the Lakers’ favor for game two. I then declared that I would take the Rockets in the second game, as I believe the Lakers will split these two games.

While the Rockets are not the same Rockets of the previous few seasons, James Harden is still always a threat to have a big game and I would not be shocked to see that be the case in this one. The Rockets were uncharacteristically inefficient in this game and that is bound to swing back towards the average in this second game.

I know that it is never fun to predict a Lakers’ loss but we have been here before. It is hard to beat a team twice in a row, especially when the Lakers are going to be looking ahead to the plane flight and game the next day against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Next. 3 Lakers that need to play better and fast. dark

At the very least, I am confident that Rockets +5.5 can cover. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that is simply how I see the game going down.

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