Los Angeles Lakers at Houston Rockets NBA Picks & Predictions 12/31/2017

Sunday, December 31, 2017

Toyota Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Los Angeles Lakers travel to Toyota Center to play the Houston Rockets on Sunday, December 31, 2017. The opening line for this matchup has Houston as 14 point favorites.

The Lakers come into this game with an overall record of 11-23. They are 5th in the Pacific Division. They currently have a point differential of -3.8 as they are averaging 106.3 points per game while giving up 110.1 per contest. The Rockets have an overall mark of 25-9. They currently are 1st in the Southwest Division. They are averaging 114.3 points per contest and giving up 105.8, which is a point differential of 8.5.

Valuable Los Angeles Lakers Betting Trends

The Los Angeles Lakers are 16-18-0 against the spread

The Los Angeles Lakers are 19-15-0 against the over/under

Important Houston Rockets Betting Trends

The Houston Rockets are 16-17-1 against the spread

The Houston Rockets are 17-16-1 against the over/under

Key Los Angeles Lakers Injuries

12/24/17 PG Lonzo Ball Shoulder is out indefinitely
12/19/17 C Brook Lopez Ankle is out indefinitely

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

12/29/17 C Clint Capela Eye is upgraded to probable Sunday vs LA Lakers
12/14/17 F Luc Mbah a Moute Shoulder is out indefinitely

Player Spotlight

Jordan Clarkson averages 14.4 points per game in 23.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 3.2 assists per contest and 3 rebounds per game for Los Angeles. His field goal percentage is 46% for the year while his free throw percentage is 77%. Kyle Kuzma comes into this contest averaging 17.7 points per game while playing 32.2 minutes per night so far this season for the Lakers. He pulls down 6.8 rebounds per game and dishes out 1.7 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 48% while his free throw percentage is currently at 75%.

Player Spotlight

Eric Gordon averages 19.5 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 32.1 minutes per contest. He also averages 2 rebounds per contest and 2 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 42% and his free throw percentage is 83%. James Harden averages 32.1 points per game while playing 36.2 minutes per contest this year for the Rockets. He grabs 5.1 rebounds per game and has 9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage currently is at 87%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Lakers allow 110.1 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 27th in the league. They also allow a 46% shooting percentage and a 34% average from behind the arc, ranking them 14th and 2nd in those defensive categories. Opponents average 45.8 rebounds a game which ranks 29th, and they give up 22.7 assists per contest which puts them in 17th place in the league. They force 15.7 turnovers per game which ranks them 25th in the league. Los Angeles averages 106.3 points per contest this season, which ranks them 11th in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is -3.79 and their shooting percentage is 45% as a team, which has them ranked 19th. Behind the arc they shoot 33% which is good for 30th in the league. They average 46.2 rebounds per game and 22.9 assists per game, which ranks them 3rd and 9th in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 3rd with 16.3 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Rockets surrender 105.8 points per contest, which ranks them 17th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 47% shooting percentage and a 37% average from 3-point range, ranking them 22nd and 18th in those defensive statistics. They rank 12th with 21.9 assists allowed per contest, and 1st with 40.8 rebounds surrendered per game. The Rockets are 20th in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 15.1 per game this season. Houston is 2nd in the league with 114.3 points per game this year. They are 10th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 8.44. They shoot 37% from 3-point range, which is good for 12th in the NBA. They are 14th in the league in rebounding with 43.8 boards per game and 20th in assists per contest with 22. The Rockets are 11th in turnovers per game with 15.4.

Advanced Statistics

The Lakers are 28th in the NBA in offensive rating with 103.3, and their defensive rating of 107 is ranked 18th. In terms of pace they are 1st in the league with 101.7 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 50% is 24th. As a team they are 28th in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shots, ranking 22nd in the league. Los Angeles is 8th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.6 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 52%, which is 20th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Houston is 10th in the NBA in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 13.9 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.8 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 53%, which is 9th in the league. The Rockets are 1st in the NBA in offensive rating with 115.2, and their defensive rating of 106.7 is ranked 22nd. In terms of pace they are 8th in the league with 99.2 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 56% is 2nd. As a team they are 2nd in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 51% of their shots, ranking 1st in the league.

Who will win tonight's Lakers/Rockets NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Houston -14

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