The Los Angeles Lakers will host the Houston Rockets tonight as they look to lock down the eighth and final Western Conference playoff spot. Start time in this evening’s game is set for 10:30pm ET at the STAPLES Center; it will be broadcast live on ESPN. NBA Odds have the hosting Lakers listed as a -2.5 against the spread favorite and the Over/Under set at 204.5 points. The Rockets are drawing +120 moneyline odds to win to, potentially, dash L.A.’s postseason hopes.

 

Los Angeles heads into tonight’s game knowing that its postseason fate is in its own hands; quite simple, if the Lakers win, they are in the playoffs. However, knowing and executing are two different things.

 

Certainly the Lakers have played some good basketball of late as evidenced by their 6-1 April record, but five of those wins came with Kobe Bryant in the lineup. Los Angeles did not knock off an unmotivated San Antonio squad 91-86 on Sunday without Bryant, but the Rockets have more to play for tonight than the Spurs did over the weekend.

 

Houston, with a loss tonight and a Utah win, would fall into the eighth spot in the Western Conference standings, earning a first round series with the top seeded Thunder. Granted, a first round series against San Antonio, which is what the Rockets are currently facing, is not much better, but it is still slightly more appealing.

 

So, in other words, Los Angeles will not be getting a free pass from Houston this evening, and that is not a good thing for Dwight Howard and company. After all, the Rockets have won four of the last five games in this series.

 

Notable Trend: The Lakers are 3-7 straight up and 1-7-2 against the spread in their last 10 games as a home favorite with a spread between 0 and 3.5 points.

 

Houston Rockets vs Los Angeles Lakers NBA Odds:

 

Houston Rockets +2.5 (-110), Over 204.5 (-110), +120 (Moneyline)

 

Los Angeles Lakers -2.5 (-110), Under 204.5 (-110), -140 (Moneyline)

 

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What pro basketball bettors need to know about Houston Rockets at Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday (4/17/13) - a free pick from Pregame.com's Vegas Runner, with Bryan Leonard and host Steve Fezzik.