Los Angeles Lakers Vs Houston Rockets-GAME DAY PREVIEW: 01.12.2021

An NBA Game Day Preview between the Los Angeles Lakers Vs Houston Rockets – StatementGames alternative Fantasy Basketball, play for FREE and WIN CASH Rewards.

When: 8:00 PM EST, January 12, 2021
Where: Toyota Center, Houston, TX
TV: NBATV

Point Spread: Rockets +5.5
OVER/UNDER Game Total: 223.5

Los Angeles Lakers

Record: 8-3
Road Record: 5-0
ATS: 5-6

Houston Rockets

Record: 3-5
Home Record: 3-2
ATS: 3-5

Los Angeles Lakers Vs Houston Rockets Game Day Preview

This past Sunday, the Los Angeles Lakers limited the Rockets to 41.1 percent shooting and forced Houston into a few dubious season-highs. They forced 21 Houston Rockets turnovers while accumulating 13 steals and eight blocked shots. The Rockets have an opportunity to enact payback as they host the Lakers again tonight.

Los Angeles Lakers

We get it, LeBron James and Anthony Davis are NBA superstars.

However, when the Lakers are at their very best – it is their defense that provides the foundation for success. This defensive might was central to the Lakers’ 120-102 win over the Houston Rockets on Sunday.

“That whole first group set a tone defensively,” Lakers coach Frank Vogel said. “Getting KCP (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope) back … he had three forced turnovers in the first few minutes (and) got out on the break. AD was really good, the whole group was good in that quarter and set a tone for the whole night.”

Anthony Davis was especially effective defending the rim, matching his season high of three blocks. His defensive performance was easy to overlook after Davis started 9 of 9 from the floor and finished with a game-high 27 points.

Houston Rockets

The Rockets’ 3-point shooting woes is a team problem. Houston ranks 24th in the NBA at 34.3 percent. What can be perceived as a bigger problem is the teams inability, or unwillingness, to recover defensively when they missed shots.

The Rockets missed 29 of its 41 3-pointers against the Lakers on Sunday. Another effort like the past one will result in more Houston Rockets PAIN.

“The transition defense obviously was not good at all,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said. “They were leaking out as soon as we shot the ball and we weren’t rotating back, and that’s something that we definitely have to correct. I don’t know if that’s feeling sorry for ourselves or whatever, but we’ve just got to get back (defensively). There’s no talent in transition defense, it’s about effort.”

Lakers Vs Rockets Facts

1. Lakers are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Houston.
2. Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings in Houston.
3. Lakers are 5-0 ATS in the last 5 meetings against Houston Rockets.

Los Angeles Lakers Vs Houston Rockets Alternative Fantasy Basketball-Statement Games Picks

Lakers 115 Rockets 107

1. 10 PT Pick: Total PTS UNDER 223.5
2. 9 PT Pick: Anthony Davis UNDER 30.5 PTS
3. 8 PT Pick: Houston Rockets 3 PT Percentage UNDER 33.5%

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