There’s a Western Conference clash at 9:30 p.m. EST on Monday night as the Houston Rockets host the Los Angeles Lakers at the Toyota Center. Battles between Kevin Durant and LeBron James are always fun, but there’s additional drama with their teams ranked third and fourth in the conference standings. Tonight’s outcome could make a major impact in the long run as the postseason approaches.
DraftKings Sportsbook lists Houston as a 2.5-point favorite at home with -135 odds to win on the Moneyline. The game total is set at 225.5 combined points.
Here are the top Lakers vs. Rockets prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook for this matchup.
Best Lakers vs. Rockets player prop bets
Alperen Sengun under 18.5 points (-102)
I’ll preface this pick by letting you know that Alperen Sengun is questionable to play tonight with back pain, and he missed the Rockets’ last contest as well. However, the under on his points prop makes a lot of sense if he does suit up, especially based on his recent production.
The Turkish center averages 20.2 PPG, second-most on Houston’s roster. Shooting efficiency hasn’t exactly been his strong suit (in the context of being a traditional big man) with a greater share of offensive responsibilities over the last two seasons at a 49.6% and 50.3% FG%, but he’s still managed to put the ball in the basket plenty. That’s changed as of late though, with the two-time All-Star in a major slump as of late. In 12 games since the All-Star break, he’s averaging 18.1 PPG and has had some pretty glaring off nights. Sengun has remained under 18.5 points in nine of those 12 outings, scoring 14 points or fewer four times.
If he does wind up playing tonight, there’s a very good chance the big man stays under that line again. The higher-upside performances just haven’t been in the cards over the last month or so, so perhaps fatigue is playing a role in this regression. Beyond that, the back issue may bother him, so watch for the Rockets to turn elsewhere for scoring even against a Lakers unit that struggles to defend the paint.
LeBron James over 5.5 rebounds (+113)
The King continues to age gracefully as LeBron James produces 21.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 7.0 assists per game in his age-41 season. Defying Father Time has become a specialty of the superstar, and he may need to turn back the clock once more against Houston tonight.
We get plus odds on over 5.5 boards for James this evening, which makes for an intriguing prop pick. He’s averaging only 5.2 rebounds across 10 games since the All-Star break and missed three outings over this span, but he’s delivered at least six boards in six of those appearances. That’s encouraging for tonight’s over, and while the matchup is a tough one, there’s more reason to believe he summons some of his youth on the glass. The Rockets are the NBA’s best rebounding team, meaning the Lakers will need every bit of support they can get from their frontcourt when the ball comes off the rim. Given his size and perhaps the added motivation of wanting to go toe-to-toe with Durant, James should be locked in for all phases of the contest.
The plus odds make this over worth a selection even despite the matchup.
