🏀 Lakers vs. Rockets Player Props Today: NBA Playoffs Best Bets & Picks for Game 3
📡 SBR Edge: LeBron Goes Over on Assists
My Lakers vs. Rockets player props for Game 3 today feature LeBron James Over 8.5 assists (+102). He has gone over this line in eight of his last ten games without Luka Doncic. My second NBA best bet is Reed Sheppard Over 9.5 points (-135), as Rockets coach Ime Udoka told reporters he will play more minutes in Game 3.
🏀 Best Lakers vs. Rockets player props: NBA Playoffs Game 3
See all of our experts' NBA picks based on the latest NBA odds for the playoffs.
| 💰 Pick | 💡 Best odds | ⚖️ Bet size | 🧠 Why I'm making this bet |
|---|---|---|---|
| LeBron James Over 8.5 assists | +102 via FanDuel | 0.98u -> 1u | Has dished out 10+ assists in 8 of last 10 games w/o Luka |
| Reed Sheppard Over 9.5 points | -135 via BetMGM | 0.68u -> 0.5u | Will play more minutes today, per Udoka |
Total wagered: 1.66 units | Max profit: 1.5 units
💰 Best Lakers vs. Rockets prop bet
The Lakers have the eighth-shortest odds to win the NBA Finals.
LeBron James Over 8.5 assists (+102)
James going Over on his assists without Doncic has been one of my favorite angles to attack lately. Doncic, James, and Austin Reaves are the Lakers' top three playmakers, and James could be the only one of the three suiting up tonight.
He racked up 13 assists in Game 1 and has hit double digits in that category in eight of his last 10 games without Doncic. FanDuel has his Over 8.5 assists at +102, but this bet is good up to -120 on the best sports betting sites. I also feature this bet in my NBA player props tonight.
🔥 More Lakers vs. Rockets prop picks
Follow all of our NBA analysis and expert predictions this season.
Reed Sheppard Over 9.5 points (-135)
Sheppard scored zero points in 11 minutes in Game 2, and while that was concerning for Over bettors, Udoka told reporters that he will be more involved in the game plan today.
Additionally, Kevin Durant (ankle) being questionable for tonight only helps Sheppard's odds of scoring 10 or more points. Sheppard's Over 9.5 points is -135 at BetMGM, but I would play this up to -150 on the best sports betting apps.
🚀 Lakers vs. Rockets same-game parlay
We need Sheppard to play more minutes, and the Lakers keeping tonight's game close would help keep him on the floor. With such a large spread, there's minimal negative correlation between these bets. I wouldn't risk more on this bet, though, unless the odds went up to +300 or greater. Our Shane Thurston features another NBA same-game parlay in his Celtics vs. 76ers player props.
💵 Lakers vs. Rockets SGP picks
- Reed Sheppard Over 9.5 points
- Lakers +8.5
Best odds: +260 via bet365 (0.19u -> 0.5u)
💵 My betting record for NBA picks
All NBA picks, including SGPs, have been tracked since Feb. 10.
| Bet type | Record | Net profit | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 139-161-4 | -13.39 units ❌ | -4.2% ❌ |
| Player props | 125-113-4 | -10.67 units ❌ | -3.7% ❌ |
| Parlays | 10-43 | -1.83 units ❌ | -11% ❌ |
| Spreads | 2-3 | -0.8 units ❌ | -13.1% ❌ |
| Totals | 2-2 | -0.09 units ❌ | -4.1% ❌ |
My betting record in the NBA postseason
Tracked since April 14.
| Bet type | Record | Net profit | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 31-35 | +3.64 units ✅ | 7.4% ✅ |
| Player props | 26-14 | +8.86 units ✅ | 23.6% ✅ |
| Parlays | 2-16 | -2.83 units ❌ | -51.8% ❌ |
| Spreads | 1-3 | -2.3 units ❌ | -52.5% ❌ |
| Totals | 2-2 | -0.09 units ❌ | -4.1% ❌ |
💡 How I'm betting Lakers vs. Rockets: NBA Playoffs Game 3 strategy
I risked 0.98 units on James' assists prop because I like the bet directionally, and I believe the market is overreacting to two things: James dishing out just seven assists in Game 2 and Reaves potentially returning. I risked less on Sheppard's prop because the line is closer to where I would set it. I expect the Lakers to keep this game close; however, it's very likely the Rockets will win the first half, and I would lay up to -325 on Houston's first-half moneyline.
🚑 Lakers vs. Rockets injuries: Game 3
Injury report last updated at 4 p.m. ET.
Lakers
- Luka Doncic (hamstring) - out
- Austin Reaves (oblique) - questionable
Rockets
- Steven Adams (ankle) - out
- Kevin Durant (ankle) - questionable
- Fred VanVleet (knee) - out
📺 How to watch Lakers vs. Rockets: West first round - Game 3
- Date: Friday, April 24
- Tipoff: 8 p.m. ET
- Location: Toyota Center (Houston)
- TV: Prime Video
- Spread: Rockets -8.5
- Total: 207.5
- Moneyline: Lakers +260 | Rockets -321
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