NBA Betting – Houston Rockets vs. Los Angeles Lakers

Rockets vs. Lakers (-7½)

(O/U) 199½

Tuesday, January 5 – 10:30 PM ET

The Houston Rockets may be the grittiest team in the league this season, winning games with sheer hustle and determination despite not having star center Yao Ming available all season and recently coming to the decision to part ways with franchise star Tracy McGrady.

Tonight, the Rockets will try to use their team-first style of play to slow down Kobe Bryant and the red-hot defending-champion Los Angeles Lakers.

Key Trends

• Rockets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. Western Conference.
• Rockets are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 road games.
• Lakers are 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games as a home favorite of 5.0-10.5.
• Lakers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games.
• Home team is 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings.
• Rockets are 2-6 ATS in the last 8 meetings in Los Angeles
• Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings in Los Angeles.
• Under is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.

Houston had its modest two-game winning streak snapped in the team’s 99-95 loss to the New Orleans Hornets on Saturday.

The Rockets got 19 points from Trevor Ariza and 17 from Aaron Brooks, but fell apart in the fourth quarter, getting outscored 28-18 in the final period.

Houston failed to cover the NBA point spread as a 2.5-point road underdog, snapping their two-game ATS winning streak, but have recorded a respectable 5-5 ATS record over the last 10 games overall.

The Lakers routed the Dallas Mavericks 131-96 on Sunday despite getting just 15 points from Kobe Bryant.

Bryant dished out eight assists and seven players scored in double figures for the Lakers, led by Jordan Farmar’s 24 points. Veteran forward Lamar Odom added a double-double with 15 points and 15 rebounds to help L.A. cash in for pro basketball betting backers as a 6.5-point home favorite.

The Lakers snapped a three-game ATS losing streak in the win but have gone just 4-6 ATS over the last 10 games overall.

Analysis: While the Lakers lost Pau Gasol to a left hamstring injury their last time, the team will have defensive-minded forward Ron Artest back on the floor tonight for the first time since suffering a concussion at home on Christmas Day.

I’ll keep my pick for tonight’s matchup short and sweet by saying that I like the Lakers to extract some revenge on Houston for beating them handily (101-91) back on Nov. 15.

The Lakers have far more talent that Houston, not to mention the go-to superstar player the Rockets no longer have.

The Rockets play hard every time out and have gone a blistering 5-1 ATS in their last six games against Western Conference opponents, but have also recorded a bankroll-busting 0-4 ATS in their last four road games.

I like the fact that the Lakers have gone a payday-producing 9-3 ATS in their last 12 games as a home favorite of 10.5 points or less and that the home team in this series has gone an impressive 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings.

Yes, the Lakers are just 1-5 ATS in their last six home games, but that may not matter very much with Houston going an equally disturbing 2-6 ATS in the last eight meetings in Los Angeles

In addition to playing the Lakers tonight, I also like the Under to play out as it has gone an identical 5-1 in the last six meetings between these teams in Los Angeles and 5-1 in the last six meetings overall.

NBA Expert Picks: Under 199.5 Total Points/Lakers -6.5 Points<