Lakers-Rockets Lines Preview

The Los Angeles Lakers and the Houston Rockets will both be gunning for a victory on Thursday when they meet at Toyota Center in the sixth game of their second-round playoff series. Oddsmakers currently have the Lakers listed as 8½-point favorites versus the Rockets, while the game's total has not yet been posted. Kobe Bryant dropped 26 points as the Lakers pounded the Rockets 118-78 to take a 3-2 lead in the series on Tuesday night. Los Angeles covered as 12-point home favorites as the game played UNDER the 197-point total set by oddsmakers. Pau Gasol added 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Lakers, who got 14 points and six boards from Andrew Bynum in the win. Aaron Brooks scored 14 points to lead Houston, while Von Wafer drained 13 points off the bench for the Rockets. Team records: Los Angeles: 65-17 SU, 42-39-1 ATS Houston: 53-29 SU, 40-41-1 ATS Los Angeles most recently: When playing on Thursday are 6-4 After playing Houston are 8-2 After a win are 6-4 Houston most recently: When playing on Thursday are 4-6 After playing LA Lakers are 5-5 After a loss are 8-2 A few trends to consider: LA Lakers are 14-4 SU in their last 18 games LA Lakers are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 games when playing Houston LA Lakers are 7-2 SU in their last 9 games when playing Houston The total has gone UNDER in 6 of the LA Lakers last 8 games Houston is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games at home The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Houston's last 7 games at home The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Houston's last 9 games The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Houston's last 7 games when playing LA Lakers