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Lakers vs. Rockets 2026 NBA Playoffs Game 4 prediction, odds, pick
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Lakers vs. Rockets 2026 NBA Playoffs Game 4 prediction, odds, pick appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
We're back with another prediction and pick for the 2026 NBA Playoffs, this upcoming Game 4 tilt taking place in the Western Conference. The Los Angeles Lakers take on the Houston Rockets , Los Angeles leading the series 3-0 in a shocking turn of events. Check our NBA Playoffs odds series for the Lakers-Rockets prediction and pick.
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The Los Angeles Lakers notched yet another victory in Game 3, beating the Rockets 112-108 on their home floor in overtime. The Rockets had the win all but secured until LeBron James put his cape on and hit a clutch three to send the game into OT. From there, Marcus Smart scored eight points in the extra period as the Rockets floundered once again without Kevin Durant .
The Lakers now have a chance to sweep the Rockets with Durant 'questionable' heading into this do-or-die situation for Houston.
NBA odds courtesy of DraftKings
Lakers vs. Rockets Game 4 Odds
Los Angeles Lakers: +4.5 (-105)
Houston Rockets: -4.5 (-115)
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Over: 207.5 (-110)
Under: 207.5 (-110)
Lakers vs. Rockets Key Injuries
Los Angeles: Austin Reaves (oblique – Questionable) / Luka Doncic (hamstring – OUT)
Houston: Kevin Durant (ankle – Questionable) / Steven Adams (ankle – OUT) / Fred Van Vleet (knee – OUT)
Lakers vs. Rockets Betting Trends
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The Houston Rockets are 30-12 at home. The Los Angeles Lakers are 26-16 on the road.
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The Rockets are 48-27 as favorites. The Lakers are 18-18 as underdogs.
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The Rockets are 36-49 ATS overall, 17-25 AT at home. The Lakers are 49-36 ATS overall, 22-20 ATS on the road.
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The Lakers are 7-3 outright, 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games against the Rockets.
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The Lakers are 6-0 ATS in their last six games.
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The Rockets are 1-4 ATS in their last five games.
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The total has gone UNDER in six of the Lakers' last seven games.
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The total has gone OVER in seven of Houston's last 10 games.
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NBA teams win the series 100% of the time (159-0) when leading 3-0.
Keys to Lakers vs. Rockets Matchup
After being billed as betting underdogs through each of the first three games of this series, the Lakers now stand alongside Oklahoma City as the only other team yet to lose a game in the First Round. The Rockets actually led Game 3 with less than two minutes remaining in regulation, but a number of costly turnovers and the subsequent LeBron James dagger was enough to send their last meeting in overtime. Typically, the home team has the slight edge in overtime, especially during the NBA Playoffs, but it's clear this Rockets team is seriously struggling to find their rhythm with Durant in and out of the lineup.
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For Los Angeles, LeBron James has been nothing short of sensational as he flirted with another triple-double (29p/13r/6a) as he's done in the previous two games of this series as well. Luke Kennard , who's been their main spark plug all series, went a lackluster 1-6 from three while still notching 12 points in the win. The plan to get Kennard the ball early and allow him the chance to heat up from three has been a common theme throughout this series, so expect much of the same from the Lakers as they've found the winning formula each time out.
The Houston Rockets finished the regular season as the league's best rebounding team (48.1 RPG), but they haven't been nearly as dominant during this series against the Lakers. They've been the slightly better team in the totals, but Los Angeles has been far more accurate from the field and cashing-in on their high-percentage attempts. During this game, they may look towards Alperen Sengun for his production in the paint if they're struggling to find jumpshots from the field.
Lakers' Austin Reaves is 'questionable' to make his first start of the NBA Playoffs with an oblique injury that's sidelined him all of April. Still, players like Marcus Smart and Jake LaRavia are stepping up when it matters most and this Lakers team will only grow stronger once Reaves and Doncic return to the lineup, hopefully sooner rather than later.
Lakers vs. Rockets Prediction and Pick
The Lakers have been billed as underdog through each game of this series and each time, we've sided with the Houston Rockets to pick up at least one win. Boasting one of the better two-way lineups in all of the Western Conference, they've been a shell of themselves during these NBA Playoffs in two games without Kevin Durant. Avoiding the sweep and their playoffs coming to an end, expect Durant to do everything in his power to suit-up ahead of this one.
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Still, we're going to side with the Lakers to win the game and stun the Rockets with the first sweep of these Playoffs. LeBron James has been able to find unlikely answers and the energy Los Angeles is playing with at the moment is on a different level opposite the Rockets. Let's roll with the Lakers to cover what should be a close game wire-to-wire.
Final Lakers-Rockets Game 4 Prediction & Pick: Los Angeles Lakers +4.5 (-105); OVER 207.5 (-110)
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