It doesn't matter where they play LeBron James And Kevin Durant they seem to return to each other for Christmas. They played each other at Christmas as participants Heat And Thunder. They did it again when James moved to Cavaliers and Durant joined Warriors. As James flew west to Hollywood, he took on Durant's Warriors in another celebratory showdown. If not for the injury, Durant would have joined his team. Networks against Lakers in 2021. Now we are here again. Lakers and Rockets present their teams' fifth unique match on Christmas Day.
Well… “their” commands isn't the descriptor it used to be. While James and Durant are still stars and are now backed, they are younger players. It's not just James vs. Durant. It's Luka Doncic vs. Alperen Sengun. His Austin Reeves against. Amen Thompson. These are two of the Western Conference's elite battling it out with major playoff implications on the line.
So let's get ready for one of the best games of the Christmas season with the best bets. Below are our picks against the spread and the best bet in the game.
Bold predictions for every NBA Christmas game: Thunder-Spurs tension, Curry barrage and more
Jack Maloney
Rockets vs Lakers: where to watch
- Time: 8:00 pm ET | Date: Thursday, December 25th.
- Location: Crypto.com Arena – Los Angeles
- TV channel: ABC/ESPN | Live broadcast: fubo (Try for free)
- Chances: Rockets -3, O/U: 230.5 (via Caesar Bookmaker's office)
Rockets – Lakers: predictions, odds, best bets
The Lakers are very upset right now. Luka Doncic missed Tuesday's game. DeAndre Ayton just returned from a short absence due to injury. Austin Reeves did the same, and LeBron James is almost 41 years old, so it's safe to assume he'll never be 100% again. This is exactly when you shouldn't take on the ultra-physical Rockets. Throughout the season, the Lakers had problems with bigger and more athletic teams. This is their weakness. Until they prove they can overcome this, I expect the Rockets to bully them in this matchup. Choice: Rockets -3
The Lakers have holes all over their defense, but nowhere is it more obvious than in the backcourt. They are incredibly vulnerable against small and fast guards, and only Clippers And Jazz allowing a higher percentage of three-pointers on three-point plays above the break. In other words, I expect the Lakers to build their game plan around stopping the Rockets in the paint, and in the process Reed Sheppard It's going to be a great day from deep down. Choice: Reed Sheppard over 2.5 3s.
