Western Conference contenders run it right back Wednesday night, as the Houston Rockets host the Los Angeles Lakers at the Toyota Center.
The teams have split the first two contests of their three-game, regular-season set. The rubber match comes just two days after the Lakers (43–25, 3rd East) stormed to a 100–92 victory in Houston, extending their cushion over the Rockets (41–26, 4th West) to 1.5 games with 14 games to go.
Monday marked LA’s ninth over its last 10 games. Houston, meanwhile, has batted .500 over its last 10 contests — though it has reinforcements on the way for Wednesday’s rematch in a returning Alperen Sengun.
Here’s a look at the Injury Report:
Los Angeles Lakers
- OUT: Maxi Kleber (Back)
Houston Rockets
- OUT: Steven Adams (Ankle), Jae’Sean Tate (Knee), Fred VanVleet (Knee)
Tipoff is set for 9:30 p.m. ET. Houston enters as a narrow 1.5-point home favorite on DraftKings Sportsbook, while Los Angeles sits as a +105 underdog. The game’s total is set at 222.5 points.
Lakers vs. Rockets Preview
Los Angeles Lakers Preview
Something unexpected happened Monday night. The Lakers — bolstered by a three-headed monster in Austin Reaves, LeBron James, and Luka Doncic — didn’t rely on offensive firepower to beat the Rockets. Aside from Doncic’s 36 points, no other player reached 20, and the team shot an abysmal 8-for-34 (24%) from the perimeter.
Yet even on a woeful shooting night, Los Angeles managed to best one of the NBA’s top squads by playing elite defense. It held Houston to just 35 points in the second half — 12 in the fourth — while forcing 15 turnovers. Kevin Durant, stymied by a flurry of late-game double teams, scored only two of his 18 points after intermission.
While the Lakers and defense typically mix like water and canola oil, their recent surge has been fueled by an emerging identity on that end of the floor. Their defense, which ranks 20th in the NBA this season, sits in the league’s top six over their last 10 games, coinciding with a timely 9–1 surge.
Houston Rockets Preview
Monday’s loss continued a worrying trend for the Rockets: they haven’t strung together consecutive wins since the end of February. They’re 5–5 over their last 10 games, ranking in the NBA’s bottom ten on both ends of the floor. But on the flip side, they haven’t lost back-to-back games during that stretch, either.
While the Lakers completely neutralized Houston Monday night by swarming Durant, replicating that strategy may be difficult this time around. All-Star center Alperen Sengun is set to return after missing the last game with a lingering back issue, giving the Rockets a secondary hub who can punish overcommitment with high-level scoring, elite playmaking, and interior gravity.
Lakers vs. Rockets Pick, Best Bet
While formidable defense has fueled the Lakers’ recent surge, Sengun’s return could throw a wrench in their plans. Their first meeting of the season was a case in point: With the All-Star center on the court, the Rockets cruised to a 119–96 Christmas Day victory in Los Angeles.
Expect Houston to look far more versatile than it did Monday night — too dynamic for the Lakers to steal another victory on its home hardwood.
