We have a trio of Game 2 matchups Tuesday night for the NBA on NBC slate and the nightcap is in Los Angeles where the Lakers host the Rockets.
The Lakers took Game 1 behind the collective excellence of their team and an untimely Kevin Durant injury that completely changed the Rockets’ offensive dynamic.
Houston is still favored for Game 2, laying 4.5 points from oddsmakers on the road in a critical spot.
Rockets vs. Lakers prediction, best bets
The Lakers and Rockets seem to be competing to see which team can win a series with the fewest star players.
First, Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves went down at the tail end of the season, then Durant was stunningly ruled out for Game 1 with a knee injury.
Durant’s status is up in the air for Game 2 — he participated in half of Monday’s practice, according to head coach Ime Udoka — but the Lakers gained some confidence after winning the opener.
Luke Kennard and LeBron James stole the show, but Deandre Ayton quietly also put up an impressive performance for the Lakers in Game 1.
Ayton scored 19 points and pulled down 11 boards in the win and was noticeably more involved on offense. It makes sense: with the Lakers down their top-two scorers, the defense focused on containing LeBron James, which opened up opportunities for the rest of the Lakers.
Ayton wasn’t just a beneficiary of soft defense. James and Marcus Smart found Ayton in spots on the floor that allowed him to get up quick shots or roll to the rim and finish Clint Capela style.
Betting on the NBA?
Ayton was 5-of-6 from the floor when guarded by Alperen Sengun in Game 1, and that trend holds true throughout their regular-season matchups.
Ayton will get the touches because the Lakers have few offensive options, and he can be a nightmare in the paint.
His points prop is just 13.5 points for Game 2. I think we’ll see another Domin-Ayton performance in L.A. on Tuesday night.
The Play: Deandre Ayton Over 13.5 points (-106, FanDuel)
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Malik Smith has been immersed in the sports betting industry since 2017. He’s a data nerd with a particular focus on the NBA and combat sports. He spends his weeknights in the winter looking for edges on plus-money NBA player props.
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
