Rockets vs Lakers Odds, Picks & Predictions (April 11)

• The LA Lakers are 10-point home favorites on Friday against the Houston Rockets
• With Houston locked into the 2-seed, they won’t be at full strength in preparation for the playoffs
• See my Rockets vs Lakers predictions, player props, and odds on April 11

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The LA Lakers (49-31, 30-10 home) definitely have something to play for Friday when they host the Houston Rockets (52-28, 23-16 away). The Lakers are trying to lock up the 3-seed, and stay above the fray of teams deadlocked beneath them. Houston is all cruise control now, locked into the 2-seed with two games to play, so a lot of reserves will key fuel minutes. It’s the reason LA is the overwhelming favorite in the NBA odds when this one tips at 10:30pm ET from crypto.com Arena in LA, with NBA TV broadcasting the game.

Rockets vs Lakers Odds

Houston finds itself down as distant 10-point road underdogs, and a lengthy +350 on the moneyline. The Lakers are a short -450 on the moneyline, while the total sits at 225.5 points, with -110 odds on either side. The Under has cashed in four of the last six head-to-head matchups.

Odds as of April 11 at FanDuel. Be sure to check out the best FanDuel promo code before placing a bet on any NBA game on Friday.

As mentioned, there’s not much incentive for the Rockets in this one, other than upsetting a rival with something to play for — which would likely be done in by the reserves. Currently, Jabari Smith Jr (groin), Fred VanVleet (ankle) and Alperen Sengun (personal) are all listed as questionable. Only Jae’Sean Tate (ankle) has been confirmed out against the Lakers.

Last game, Dillon Brooks and Amen Thompson sat out for rest in a 134-117 loss to the Clippers. Jalen Green played just 15 minutes. He will see time Friday, to ensure he has played all 82 games this season.

For the Lakers, they should be mostly healthy in their final home game of the season. LeBron James (groin) was on his usual place on the injured list, though he is probable against the Rockets.

HOU vs LAL Player Props

NBA player props from Bet365 on April 11.

After a monster 45-point outing against the Mavericks in his emotional return back to Dallas, Luka Doncic leads across the board in every category, including a 30.5 scoring prop, 8.5 rebounding and 7.5 assist totals, and a 3.5 3-point make line.

LeBron James is the only other player with a scoring line in the 20s, at 22.5 a figure he’s cracked in four of his five April starts.

Austin Reaves has a 19.5 scoring line Friday, a figure he’s bested in four of his last five starts.

Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Lakers Picks

• Rockets vs Lakers pick: Lakers -10 (-108)
• Rockets vs Lakers prop bet: Doncic Under 30.5 points (-110)

LA’s playoff berth was clinched with a 112-97 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Wednesday night, as Luka Doncic stole the show.

His 45 points was his most as a Laker, adding eight rebounds, six assists and drilling 7-for-10 from 3-point range. I don’t know how someone cranks up the emotional dial back up after that one, but they’ll need some semblance of that player to keep lock down that 3-seed.

Currently, Los Angeles is a game up on both the Nuggets and Clippers and 1.5 up on the Memphis Grizzlies. Their easiest formula to lock up third is to close out the Rockets Friday and dust the Portland Trail Blazers Sunday, to make sure they don’t tumble themselves into a series starting on the road.

The Lakers are a dynamite home team, going 30-11 on the season, and piling up a 26-14-0 record against the spread.

All Houston knows is that they’ll be squaring off against the seventh seed when the playoffs start, but that could be anyone from Denver (currently fourth) to the Mavericks (currently 10th).

The Rockets are a good enough scoring team, ranking 13th at 114.4 points per game, and their shooting splits from the field and 3-point range are both in the low-20s.

They do make up for it with a smothering defense, which allows just 109.2 points per game, allowing just 45.6% shooting from the field, both Top 5 marks.

Friday is the rubber match of a 3-game season series, with Houston winning 119-115 at home in January, and the Lakers returning the favor at home with a 104-98 win at the end of March.

This would be a dandy tuneup to the playoffs — a potential Round 2 preview — but with Houston sitting pretty in second, this one should be all Lakers. Look for LA to not play around, get out to a big lead, and cruise home with reserves too.