The Lakers face the Rockets in Game 5 of the NBA Playoffs, aiming to eliminate Houston. The Rockets won Game 4 decisively, and the Lakers hope to bounce back with potential support from Austin Reaves.
Key points
Lakers aim to eliminate the Rockets in Game 5
Rockets won Game 4 with a score of 115-96
Amen Thompson scored 23 points for the Rockets
LeBron James struggled with only 10 points in Game 4
Austin Reaves may return for the Lakers
Los Angeles LakersHouston RocketsLeBron JamesAmen Thompson
Lakers vs. Rockets â Game 5 NBA Playoffs â predictions: Odds, recent stats, trends and best bets for April 29
LeBron James and the Lakers take the court tonight at home looking to eliminate the Houston Rockets who will be without Kevin DurantâŠagain.
There is a Game 5 because the Rockets controlled Game 4 start to finish ultimately winning 115-96. Amen Thompson led the way with 23 points and Tari Eason chipped in 20. As a team Houston shot 40% from deep (12-30) and while the Lakers shot 50% (37-74) from the field for the game they were just 5-22 (23%) from downtown. LeBron James was not his usual self, scoring just 10 points and turning the ball over eight times for the Lakers.
Los Angeles may get Austin Reaves back tonight but despite he and Luka Doncic not dressing through the series first four games, the Lakers have controlled most of the series behind LeBronâs playmaking and a defense that has consistently disrupted Houstonâs perimeter rhythm. Even at 41 years old, James is averaging 21.5 points per game in the series. He has been the stabilizing force for L.A., highlighted by his lateâgame heroics in Game 3. With the exception of Game 4, the Lakersâ supporting castâparticularly Marcus Smart, Luke Kennard, and âhas stepped up in key moments, giving L.A. enough balance to withstand the absence of two of their top three players.
Q&A
What are the odds for the Lakers vs. Rockets Game 5 on April 29?
The odds for the Lakers vs. Rockets Game 5 are not specified in the excerpt but can be found on sports betting platforms.
Who led the Rockets in scoring during Game 4 against the Lakers?
Amen Thompson led the Rockets in Game 4 with 23 points.
How did LeBron James perform in Game 4 against the Rockets?
LeBron James scored only 10 points and had eight turnovers in Game 4.
Will Austin Reaves play in Game 5 against the Rockets?
Austin Reaves may return for the Lakers in Game 5, but his status is not confirmed.
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Houston, meanwhile, enters the night with its season on the line and a roster that has struggled to find consistency. Kevin Durantâs knee and ankle issues have limited the Rocketsâ offense, and the teamâs inability to generate efficient scoring against the Lakersâ defense has been a defining storyline. Turnovers and cold perimeter shooting have repeatedly stalled Houstonâs momentum, though their Game 4 performanceâwhere they finally outshot the Lakers from deepâoffers a glimmer of hope. To force a Game 6, the Rockets will need a repeat of Game 4 in which they controlled tempo, shot well from deep, and limited the Lakers from beyond the arc.
The biggest question heading into tonight is whether the Lakers can reassert control after their Game 4 stumble. LeBronâs scoring prop sits at 23.5 points, the lowest it has been in weeks, and analysts expect him to bounce back with a more aggressive approach after a twoâday rest. Houston avoided the sweep once, but historyâand the matchup trendsâfavor Los Angeles. If the Lakers maintain their defensive discipline and get even modest offensive contributions from their role players, theyâre well positioned to advance. But if the Rockets can speed up the pace, hit threes, and pressure L.A.âs thin rotation, this series could tighten unexpectedly.
Lets take a closer look at tonightâs matchup and take into consideration lineups, injuries, and other factors affecting the line and total.
Weâve got all the info and analysis you need to know ahead of the game, including the latest info on how to catch tipoff, odds courtesy ofDraftKingsrecent team performance, player stats, and of course, our predictions, picks best bets for the game from our modeling tools and staff of experts.
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Game Details and How to Watch Live: Lakers vs. Rockets
Date: Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Time: 10PM EST
Site: crypto.com Arena
City: Los Angeles, CA
Network/Streaming: ESPN
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Game Odds: Lakers vs. Rockets
The latest odds as of Wednesday courtesy ofDraftKings:
Moneyline: Los Angeles Lakers (-180), Houston Rockets (+150)
Spread: Lakers -4.5
Total: 207.5 points
This game opened Lakers -2.5 with the Game Total set at 205.5.
Be sure to check out DraftKings for all the latest game odds & player props for every matchup this week on the NBA schedule!
Austin Reaves (oblique) is questionable for tonightâs game
Luka Doncic (hamstring) has been declared OUT for tonightâs game
Houston Rockets
Kevin Durant (ankle/knee) has been declared OUT of tonightâs game
Steven Adams (ankle) has been declared OUT of tonightâs game
Fred VanVleet (knee) has been declared OUT of tonightâs game
Important stats, trends and insights: Lakers vs. Rockets
The Rockets are 22-21 on the road this season
The Lakers are 30-13 at home this season
The Rockets are 37-49 ATS this season
LA is 48-37-1 ATS this season
The OVER has cashed in 41 of the Rocketsâ 86 games this season (41-45)
The OVER has cashed in 44 of the Lakersâ 86 games this season (44-42)
After going 9-17from 3-point range in the series first 3 games, Luke Kennard was 0-3 in Game 4
Marcus Smart has averaged 3.5 steals per game in this series
Deandre Ayton has averaged 8 rebounds per game in this series with highs of 11 boards in Game 1 and 10 in Game 4
Rotoworld Best Bet
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Our model calculates projections around each moneyline, spread and over/under bet for every game on the NBA calendar based on data points like recent performance, head-to-head player matchups, trends information and projected game totals.
Once the model is finished running, we put its projections next to the latest betting lines for the game to arrive at a relative confidence level for each wager.
Here are the best bets our model is projecting for tonightâs Lakers and Rocketsâ game:
Moneyline: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Lakers on the Moneyline
Spread: Rotoworld Bet is recommending a play on the Lakers -4.5 ATS
Total: Rotoworld Bet is leaning towards a play on the Game Total OVER 207.5
Want even more NBA best bets and predictions from our expert staff & tools? Check out the Expert NBA Predictions page from NBC Sports for money line, spread and over/under picks for every game on todayâs calendar!
If youâre looking for more key trends and stats around the spread, moneyline and total for every single game on the schedule today, check out ourNBA Top Trends toolon NBC Sports!
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