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Houston Rockets

Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Lakers Prediction, Odds and NBA Playoffs Game 5 Picks for Today, 04/29/26

Crypto.com ArenaESPN
Rockets
1-3
Rockets
Today
Lakers
3-1
Lakers
Los Angeles Lakers

Rockets vs Lakers Best Bets

Point Spread PickBest Bet
LA Lakers -4.0(-110)

The Los Angeles Lakers will have another chance to close out the Houston Rockets in their Western Conference first-round series when Game 5 is played on Wednesday night in L.A. Los Angeles had a chance to sweep, but Houston stayed alive with a 115-96 romp on Sunday. Still, the Lakers have been the superior side in this series and it looks like their injury situation is in better shape compared to that of the Rockets. As such, my Rockets vs Lakers pick is on the home team to win and cover. Neither squad, of course, is 100 percent. L.A. has been without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves throughout the series, while Kevin Durant has played in only 1 game for Houston. Durant is expected to be sidelined again on Wednesday with a bone bruise on his ankle, whereas Reaves has a good chance to return from his oblique injury.

With or without Doncic and Reaves, the Lakers have proven that they are the better side — especially when you take Durant’s absence into account. It is true that the Lakers probably should have lost Game 3 (trailed by 6 points with under 30 seconds left) before winning in overtime, but also don’t forget that they won the first 2 contests at home in relatively routine fashion. Although LeBron James did not do much on Sunday, he scored 28 and 29 points in Game 2 and Game 3, respectively. The 41-year-old can still put his team on his back when it matters most and when Doncic and Reaves are missing. The Rockets did well to avoid getting swept when they won Game 4, but this is probably the end of the road.

Rockets vs Lakers Game 5 prediction: Los Angeles -4 (-110) available at time of publishing. Playable to -5.5. 

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Ricky Dimon
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Ricky Dimon

Since graduating from Davidson (The College That Stephen Curry Built), I have been writing about sports -- just about any and all you can think of! -- and coaching tennis in Atlanta, GA. Beyond the four major sports, I am an avid tennis fan and cover the ATP Tour on a daily basis. If I'm not busy writing, you can generally find me on a tennis court or traveling the world wherever a sporting event takes me. For Ricky Dimon media enquiries, please email contact@pickswise.com.
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