Lakers vs. Rockets odds, forecast, time: 2026 NBA playoff selections, April 21 top wagers using a validated modelThe Los Angeles Lakers will host the Houston Rockets in Game 2 of their 2026 NBA playoff first-round series on Tuesday following an unexpected victory at home. In Sunday's first game, the Lakers (53-29), the fourth-seeded team in the West, upset the Rockets (52-30) 107-98. Houston has lost two of their last three games, while Los Angeles has now won four in a row. In the NBA postseason, the Lakers have a 24-16 record against the Rockets. Austin Reaves (oblique) and Luka Doncic (hamstring) are still sidelined for the Lakers. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Kevin Durant (knee), who missed Game 1, has been cleared to play.

The tipoff at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles is scheduled for 10:30 p.m. ET. Houston is a 5.5-point favorite in the most recent Rockets vs. Lakers odds, and the over/under for total points scored is 208.5. Check out the Rockets vs. Lakers predictions from the SportsLine Projection Model before making any Lakers vs. Rockets selections.

Odds for the game

HOU

49-30

@

LAL

53-29

Spread

Overall Moneyline

-6

-110

O 209.5

-105

-225

+6

-105

U 209.5

-110

+198

Over the course of the last eight or more seasons, the SportsLine Projection Model has generated well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 gamblers on its top-rated NBA choices, simulating every NBA game 10,000 times. The model has a scorching 24-9 record (73%) on top-rated NBA spread picks going into the first full week of the 2026 NBA playoffs.