LA Lakers (33-8) at Houston (26-14)
When: Saturday, January 18th, 2020
Where: Toyota Center,
Houston, TX
Time: 8:35 ET | TV: ABC
Opening Odds: Houston -2.5/232
The NBA is back to showcasing their best products on the ABC Saturday night game of the week and they start the scheduling off with a terrific matchup featuring the Los Angeles Lakers and Houston Rockets. Both teams might have been caught looking ahead this week, as the Lakers saw their nine-game winning streak come to an end and the Rockets were upset at home to the Trail Blazers. A little bit of luster could be taken off this affair with the tailbone injury to L.A. star Anthony Davis, who has missed the last four games. He didn’t practice on Friday and is listed as questionable for Saturday, thus no overnight line. LeBron James tried his best without his star teammate and matched his career best of 19 assists against Orlando but had just 19 points and three rebounds in the 119-118 home loss. The Rockets fell 117-107 to the visiting Blazers as 8.5-point favorites on Wednesday for their third loss in four games. Houston has won 17 of the last 21 meetings, but the Lakers have covered the spread in the last two.
Los Angeles is also dealing with the abscence of point guard Rajon Rondo, who is questionable for Saturday due to a broken finger. The Lakers still lead the West by four games over the Denver Nuggets and are the No. 1 shooting team in the league at 48.6 percent from the field. L.A. received big contributions from the bench on Wednesday, recording 68 of the 118 points with Quinn Cook leading the way with 22. Guards Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Troy Daniels each chipped in 17 points. The Lakers are beginning a tough five-game road trip with stops in Boston and Philadelphia along the way.
Point guard Russell Westbrook is coming off a triple-double (31 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds) in the loss to Portland and has recorded 20 or more points in 15 consecutive contests. Star James Harden scored a season-low 13 points on 3-of-12 shooting and is clearly frustrated. “We’ve got some tough opponents coming up, and we’ve got to figure our way through it. We will”, said Harden. Houston has seen its last three losses all come by double digits to teams who they were favored against. Reserve guard Eric Gordon (13.7 points) is averaging 21.5 points over the past two games including 10-of-25 from 3-point land. Houston will host Oklahoma City on Monday.
Houston has been struggling lately, but they’ll be focused for this one at home. This is a very small line against a Lakers team that probably won’t have Davis in the lineup, but even if he does play, I still like the Rockets’ chances.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Saturday. He is 47-36-3 (57%) on the season!
Pick: Rockets -2
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Lakers are 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Lakers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Lakers are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Lakers are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS loss.
Lakers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Rockets are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Rockets are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Rockets are 11-2 ATS in their last 13 games playing on 2 days rest.
Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
Rockets are 10-3 ATS in their last 13 Saturday games.
Rockets are 11-4 ATS in their last 15 games as an underdog.
Rockets are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games following a double-digit loss at home.
Rockets are 30-14 ATS in their last 44 games as a home underdog.
Rockets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Rockets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Rockets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Rockets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Rockets are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-0 in Lakers last 4 overall.
Over is 4-0 in Lakers last 4 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-0 in Lakers last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Lakers last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Over is 7-3 in Lakers last 10 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 41-18 in Lakers last 59 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 19-9 in Lakers last 28 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 4-0-1 in Rockets last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Over is 8-0 in Rockets last 8 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 6-2 in Rockets last 8 games following a straight up loss.
Over is 5-2 in Rockets last 7 games following a double-digit loss at home.
Under is 10-4 in Rockets last 14 games as an underdog.
Under is 5-2 in Rockets last 7 home games.
Under is 7-3 in Rockets last 10 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 9-4 in Rockets last 13 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 37-17-1 in Rockets last 55 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 13-6 in Rockets last 19 games as a home underdog.
Lakers are 6-13 ATS in the last 19 meetings in Houston.
Lakers are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
Over is 10-3 in the last 13 meetings.
Over is 14-3 in the last 17 meetings in Houston.
