Lakers vs. Rockets odds, line: Proven model reveals picks for NBA first round Game 6 matchup on Friday, May 1

The Houston Rockets lost the first three games of their best-of-7 series with the Los Angeles Lakers. But now the Rockets have won two straight, and can even the series when the teams meet for Game 6 on Friday night. Houston has limited LeBron James' Lakers to under 100 points in Games 4 and 5; they scored over 100 in the three prior victories. 

Tipoff from the Toyota Center is set for 9:30 p.m. ET. Houston is favored by 3.5 points in the latest Lakers vs. Rockets odds from FanDuel Sportsbook, while the over/under for total points scored is 205.5. Luka Doncic (hamstring) remains out for the Lakers, while Kevin Durant (ankle) has been ruled out for Houston.

Before making any Lakers vs. Rockets picks, you NEED to see what the SportsLine Projection Model has to say.

SportsLine's model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past eight-plus seasons. The model entered the second full week of the 2026 NBA playoffs on a sizzling 25-9 roll (74%) on top-rated NBA spread picks this season. Anyone following could have seen HUGE returns!

The model has simulated Rockets vs. Lakers 10,000 times and the results are in. The model is going Over on the point total, and it also says one side of the spread is the better value!

Who wins Lakers vs. Rockets, and which side of the spread is the better value? ... Join SportsLine right now to find out which side of the spread you should be all over, all from the model on a 25-9 roll on top-rated NBA picks!