Lakers vs Rockets Game Analysis for Game 3
On April 24, the Lakers will meet the Rockets for Game 3 of their opening playoff series in Houston. The Lakers will be without Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, and Peyton Watson, while the Rockets list Anthony Edwards as questionable.
41-year-old LeBron James has stepped up in the playoffs, as he has for the last 19 postseasons. But how long can he keep up the pace? Let’s find out on our Lakers vs Rockets prediction at PayPerHead.
Los Angeles Lakers Recent Scores
The Lakers finished the season with 3 straight wins, but that came after 3 straight losses (twice to OKC and once to the Dallas Mavericks). They were 7-3 in their last 10 regular-season games, which clinched them the No. 4 seed.
Their biggest game came on March 31, when Luka Dončić scored 42 points with 12 assists, and Deandre Ayton had 18 points to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 127-113.
Houston Rockets Recent Scores
Houston finished the season, winning 9 of their last 10 games. Their only loss came against the Timberwolves on April 10 in a high-scoring 136-132 final. Amen Thompson had a career-high 41 points, and Kevin Durant contributed 33 for the Rockets, but Minnesota had 7 players scoring at least 15 points to win.
Their toughest opponent during that stretch was the New York Knicks, whom the Rockets beat, 111-94, on March 31.
Game 3. Be early. Be loud.
— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) April 22, 2026
Be our Home Court Advantage 🔥
🎟️ https://t.co/vTtN5BRSBJ pic.twitter.com/4yyRCZHAT8
Los Angeles vs Houston History
LA’s 2 wins against Houston this season were fairly close (and recent). The Rockets’ only win was by 23 points, but it was way back on Christmas Day.
- December 25, 2025: Lakers 96 – 119 Houston (at Los Angeles)
- March 16, 2026: Lakers 100 – 92 Houston (at Houston)
- March 18, 2026: Lakers 124 – 116 Houston (at Houston)
Without their top two scorers, the Lakers upset the Rockets in their opening game of the playoffs. In Game 1, Luke Kennard scored a career playoff-high 27 points for the Lakers, while LeBron James added 19 points and 13 assists to help the Lakers beat the Rockets 107-98.
Alperen Şengün had 19 points, Jabari Smith added 16 points, and Amen Thompson had 17 points for the Rockets.
The Lakers took only 66 shots (the fewest by an NBA team in the last 3 seasons), but 60.6% of those shots were successful, while holding opponents to a measly 37.6% efficiency. Their annoying defense helped get the win.
The return of Kevin Durant to the Rockets’ lineup in Game 2 wasn’t enough to help the Rockets overcome the Lakers. LA won, 101-94. Durant had 23 points in the night, with only 3 of those coming in the second half.
LeBron James had 28 points, and Marcus Smart contributed 25 (with five 3-pointers) for the Lakers.
Lakers vs Rockets Prediction for Game 3
The Lakers ruined the Rockets’ plan to win the first 2 games of the series. With both Austin Reaves and Luka Dončić out of the lineup, the Rockets were supposed to glide to a 2-game cushion before flying back to Houston.
The Lakers’ pesky defense will continue to try to smother the Rockets in an attempt to win a third straight, but Houston will do everything it can to avoid falling 3-0 in the series. Expect a desperate push by the Rockets, backed by the home crowd, to get this win.
Our Lakers vs Rockets prediction is the Rockets over the Lakers, 108-102.
