Luke Kennard (Los Angeles Lakers) Under 5.5 Assists (-149)

Odds available at draftkings at time of publishing

As the Lakers take on the Rockets, all eyes will be on Luke Kennard, but bettors might want to consider a different angle: the under on his assists total at 5.5. Sure, Kennard has been lighting it up lately, averaging 6.4 assists over his last five games, but let's dig a bit deeper. At home, his assist average plummets to just 3.2, and when facing off against the Rockets, it dips further, with only 2 assists per game in their last few matchups. With a hit rate of 19 out of 20 at home, the numbers suggest he's likely to play more of a scoring role in this matchup. Combine those trends with an expected stat value of just 3.81, and it seems clear: Kennard might find it tough to hit the over against a Houston team that can stifle assists.

Tari Eason (Houston Rockets) Over 12.5 Points + Rebounds (-109)

Odds available at draftkings at time of publishing

As the Rockets gear up to face the Lakers, keep an eye on Tari Eason to power through that points-plus-rebounds total of 12.5. His recent form shows a solid upward trend; in his last four games, Eason has hit this mark three times. When playing away, he's averaged about 9.6 points and a respectable 6.8 rebounds, which brings him close to that target. But here's where it gets interesting: against the Lakers, Eason's numbers suggest he thrives, averaging 7.5 points and 5.5 rebounds in their last encounters. With the Lakers' defense struggling to contain versatile scorers like Eason, he's poised to capitalize on any mismatches. Given his expected stat value of 15.86, this bet feels like a smart play. Eason has a knack for stepping up in crucial moments, and this matchup sets the stage perfectly for him to exceed the line.

Marcus Smart (Los Angeles Lakers) Under 1.5 Threes Made (+107)

Odds available at draftkings at time of publishing

As the Lakers gear up to face the Rockets, all eyes should be on Marcus Smart's three-point shooting. While he's been consistent lately, averaging 1.4 threes at home over his last five games, the matchup tells a different story. Historically, he has only managed to sink 1.2 threes against Houston when playing at home, and recent form suggests he's trending downward, hitting just 0.6 threes overall in his last five outings.With the Lakers' defense tightening and Smart's shooting production dipping, betting the under on 1.5 threes feels like a smart move. The odds are reasonable, especially given that he's hit the under in four of his last five home games. Plus, with an expected value of only 1.28 threes, it's hard to see him breaking that threshold against a Rockets team that can stifle perimeter shooting. This could be a game where Smart's contributions come more from playmaking than long-range shooting

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