LeBron, Lakers Look To Rebound Against Rockets: NBACast

By Bill Speros

Mar 14th, 2024 7:22 AM EST

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LeBron James wasn’t ready for the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 1 of the Lakers first-round series. The Lakers dropped that one before winning four straight games to advance against the Houston Rockets. Well, James wasn’t ready for Game 1 against Houston in the NBA Western Conference Semifinals, either. The Lakers stumbled badly in a 112-97 loss inside the Bubble at Walt Disney World’s ESPN Wide World of Sports in Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

LeBron and the Lakers will try to repeat recent history in this round, starting with a victory in Game 3 Sunday night. The Raptors are consensus early 5.5-point favorites in the early line at 888sport. The Lakers are -208 at DraftKings, while the Rockets are a very tempting +200 at BetMGM. The total is 213. Bettors can get complete up-to-the-minute Lakers-Rockets Game 2 Sunday odds here.

Those who partake in NBA betting fanatics can track the action, analysis and break-out stats in real time on the Bookies.com-sponsored #NBACast, hosted by NBA experts Nate Duncan and Danny Leroux. The #NBACast offers unique in-game trends and — as always —Duncan and Leroux take your in-game questions during breaks in the action. Play begins at approximately 8:30 p.m. ET. The game will also air on ABC as the back-end of a day-night doubleheader. The first game of the day features the Miami Heat (-2) going for a sweep of the Milwaukee Bucks. That game begins at 3:30 p.m.

Fans can follow the Lakers-Rockets #NBACast on YouTube, via Twitch or on Twitter/Periscope at @NateDuncanNBA.

LeBron Looks For Launch Against Rockets

James had 20 points and eight rebounds in 37 minutes of play in Game 1. That’s no more than a pedestrian performance for the league’s resident self-proclaimed monarch, especially when he was held scoreless in the fourth quarter as his team was outscored 27-18. Still worse for James and the Lakers were his four turnovers. That was the most glaring weakness in his Game 1 performance.

”We can’t turn the ball over like that. That starts with myself,” James said postgame.

The Rockets used their speed over 48 minutes to ride two big names to victory in Game 1. The fast pace left the Lakers flummoxed. LA committed 17 turnovers that led to 27 points. Houston’s James Harden led all scorers with 36 points on 12-of-20 shooting. Russell Westbrook kept his team at +15 during his time on the floor while dropping 24 points, with nine boards and six assists.

Prop & Futures Bets For Rockets, Lakers

Several NBA futures betting markets have the Lakers as the second choice to win the Western Conference behind the Clippers. The Los Angeles Lakers are +215 at SugarHouse to win the West, while the Rockets are +700 at Caesars. The Lakers are the No. 2 overall choice to win the NBA Finals - behind the Clippers, as well - with a +350 tag at WilliamHill. The Rockets are +900 to win their first NBA title since 1995 the same site.

RELATED: Check out our NBA expert picks for Sunday action and bookmark the page for our free NBA picks every day of the playoffs.

About the Author

Bill Speros

More About Bill

Bill Speros is an award-winning journalist and editor whose career includes stops at USA Today Sports Network / Golfweek, Cox Media, ESPN, Orlando Sentinel and Denver Post.

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