The Lakers will play the Rockets on Friday, May 1st, 2026. Your timezone's tip off time is 9:30 pm EDT. Check local listings or your nearest streaming app for coverage.
Learn more about NBA Betting with our handy tutorial and guide. We explain spread, total and money line bets. Plus, a great discussion about exotic bets like NBA parlays and props.
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Table of Contents
- Matchup Stats
- Captain Shady Lines
- Best Odds
- Interactive Odds Example
- Prop Bets
- Team Standings
- Futures Odds
- Team Pages
- Other Games Today
Key Matchup Stats
It's time for the 2026 NBA playoffs, with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets queued up to tipoff on Friday, May 1st, 2026. All NBA playoff matchups are best of seven games, with the exception of the play-in tournament which is single elimination. Have a look at the best point spread, total, and moneyline bets below from our featured legal US sports betting partners.
- SportsBetting3.com Power Rankings - The Los Angeles Lakers concluded the regular season with a 94.00 power ranking. Their opponent, the Houston Rockets, finished up with a 95.33 ranking. In general, the team with the higher SportsBetting3.com power ranking will be the favorite (depending on the playoff matchup, of course).
- Away Los Angeles Lakers - The Los Angeles Lakers finished the 2025-26 regular season with a 25-16 away team record. That result ranked them 5th in the league for away team wins.
- Home Houston Rockets - Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets notched a 30-11 home team record. They ended the 2025-26 regular season ranked 4th in the league for home team wins.
- Average Points Per Game - The Los Angeles Lakers finished 11th (116.3) in the league for average points scored per game. The Houston Rockets ended up 16th, averaging 115.2 PPG at the end of the regular season.
- Average Opponent Points Per Game - Opponents scored an average of 114.6 points against the Los Angeles Lakers per game during the regular season. That result ranks them 19th in the league for the 2025-26 season. The Houston Rockets finished 26th in the league for points scored against them. That means they allowed 110.0 OPPG on average.
- Team Division Records - The Los Angeles Lakers wound up with a 10-7 Western Pacific Division division record for the 2025-26 regular season. On the other side of the court, the Houston Rockets finalized their season with a 10-6 Western Southwest Division standing.
- Overall Team Records - The Los Angeles Lakers had 53-29 regular season record, while the Houston Rockets had a 52-30 regular season final standing.
Captain Shady Lines
A broken compass is right at least twice a day.
Avast ye, mateys! The Los Angeles Lakers be clashin' with the Houston Rockets...in the 2026 NBA Playoffs showdown on May 1st. Ye Lakers be standin' tall at 53-29...
While the Rockets be boastin' a 52-30 overall record for the regular season...Lakers hold a fierce 10-7 division record, while Rockets stand at 10-6...Scoring be close, with Lakers averagin' 116.3 points per game and Rockets at 115.2...
Review each team's regular season standings below...We've rank-ordered the best point spread, moneyline, and total bets below...Check out this game's prop bets from our featured sports betting partners...Hoist the sails and brace yerselves for a battle on the hardwood!
Best Lakers at Rockets Odds
| Underdog Los Angeles Lakers | Favorite Houston Rockets |
|---|---|
| Over | Under |
|---|---|
| Underdog Los Angeles Lakers | Favorite Houston Rockets |
|---|---|
Matchup Odds FAQs
The Houston Rockets are -3.5 -118 point spread favorites at BetMGM, while the Los Angeles Lakers are +3.5 -102 point spread underdogs at BetMGM.
The best over line is 206.5 -110 points at BetMGM, which means you risk $110 to win $100 betting the over. The best under line is 206.5 -110 points at BetMGM, and that means you risk $110 to win $100 betting the under.
The Houston Rockets are the -185 moneyline favorite at BetMGM and the Los Angeles Lakers are the +150 moneyline underdog at BetMGM.
NBA Odds Example
|
Game |
 BetMGMBet |
|---|---|
Lakers
Rockets
5/01/26 9:30pm EDT | +3.5 -102-3.5 -118 |
Underdog Los Angeles Lakers - Los Angeles Lakers bettors risk $100 to win $98.04 at -102 odds.
A +3.5 Los Angeles Lakers underdog bet wins if they lose by 3 or fewer, tie, or win outright. Your bet loses if they lose by 4 or more.
Favorite Houston Rockets - Houston Rockets bettors risk $100 to win $84.75 at -118 odds.
A -3.5 Houston Rockets favorite bet wins if they win by 4 or more. Your bet loses if they win by 3 or fewer, tie, or lose outright.
Los Angeles Lakers at Houston Rockets Prop Bets
| BetMGM Bet |
|
|---|---|
Lakers
Rockets
Game to Overtime
5/01/26 9:30pm EDT | Yes +1200No -3000Bet |
Rockets
Team Total Points
LAL at HOU 5/01/26 9:30pm EDT | 104.5 o -120104.5 u -105Bet |
Lakers
Team Total Points
LAL at HOU 5/01/26 9:30pm EDT | 101.5 o -118101.5 u -110Bet |
Alperen Sengun
Points, Rebounds & Assists
LAL at HOU 5/01/26 9:30pm EDT | 37.5 u -13537.5 o +100Bet |
| BetMGM | |
Amen Thompson
Points, Rebounds & Assists
LAL at HOU 5/01/26 9:30pm EDT | 33.5 o -10533.5 u -130Bet |
Austin Reaves
Points, Rebounds & Assists
LAL at HOU 5/01/26 9:30pm EDT | 33.5 u -13033.5 o -105Bet |
Jabari Smith Jr
Points, Rebounds & Assists
LAL at HOU 5/01/26 9:30pm EDT | 27.5 o -11527.5 u -115Bet |
Jaxson Hayes
Points, Rebounds & Assists
LAL at HOU 5/01/26 9:30pm EDT | 9.5 o -1189.5 u -115Bet |
| BetMGM | |
LeBron James
Points, Rebounds & Assists
LAL at HOU 5/01/26 9:30pm EDT | 38.5 o -11838.5 u -110Bet |
Rui Hachimura
Points, Rebounds & Assists
LAL at HOU 5/01/26 9:30pm EDT | 17.5 o -10517.5 u -130Bet |
Team Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct | GB | Home | Away | Div | Conf | PPG | Op. PPG | Diff | Strk | L10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| y - Los Angeles Lakers | 53 | 29 | 0.646 | +11.0 | 28-13 | 25-16 | 10-7 | 33-19 | 116.3 | 114.6 | +1.7 | W3 | 7-3 |
| x - Houston Rockets | 52 | 30 | 0.634 | +12.0 | 30-11 | 22-19 | 10-6 | 29-23 | 115.2 | 110.0 | +5.2 | W1 | 9-1 |
Los Angeles Lakers & Houston Rockets Futures Odds
Latest NBA Championship odds, if available, for each team. Review odds for other teams and learn how to bet on the NBA Championship. See past Championship results and learn how to bet NBA Finals teasers, props and parlays.
Los Angeles Lakers Championship Odds|
Team | BetMGM |
|---|---|
| Lakers | +3500 Bet |
|
Team | BetMGM |
|---|---|
| Rockets | +50000 Bet |
Los Angeles Lakers & Houston Rockets Team Pages
Review each team's season win total odds, futures odds, betting bonuses and other valuable information on our exclusive team betting odds pages. Team betting odds and stats update throughout the season:
How to Bet on the Game
Time needed: 4 minutes.
How to Bet on the Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets NBA Game
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Open a new sports betting account before game time.
Review our list of sports betting sites. Open a new account before the game starts on Friday, May 1st, 2026 at 9:30 pm EDT, making sure to enter all your personal details correctly. Don't forget to add your bonus code.
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Visit the sportsbook’s cashier, banking, or deposit page.
Navigate to the sportsbook's deposit page. Use your Visa card or MasterCard, or deposit with a bank transfer, or other methods like Paypal.
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Tap to the sportsbook's NBA page, look for the Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets Game.
Navigate to the sportsbook's NBA page. Next, look for live or upcoming matchups. Select the Los Angeles Lakers vs Houston Rockets Game.
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Choose your bet and place a wager.
Choose your bet and then use the funds you deposited to place a wager. The sportsbook will pay your winnings or deduct a losing wager from your account balance after the game.
Other May 1, 2026 NBA Games
- Detroit Pistons vs Orlando Magic - 5/01/26 7:10pm EDT
- Cleveland Cavaliers vs Toronto Raptors - 5/01/26 7:30pm EDT