DraftKings. Since returning from his midseason injury, Austin Reaves is under this combined line in 9/13 games played alongside both LeBron James and Luka Doncic. In what should be another grind of a game between two teams that sit in the bottom 11 of the league in pace, I donтАЩt see Reaves getting the requisite volume heтАЩd need to clear this line. IтАЩd bet this down to under 28.5.
This feels like a prime letdown spot for a Lakers club that is in the second of a six-game road swing. They toppled the short-handed Rockets 100-92 on Monday night, but the return of big man Alperen Sengun should give Houston a needed boost as it aims to close the gap for the No. 3 seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
So tough to sweep one of these baseball-type series on the road in the NBA even against a bad team, much less a good one like Houston. I touch on this in today's newsletter, but I expect a very motivated Kevin Durant tonight after he played terribly in Monday's home loss to the Lakers. The Rockets also didn't have second-leading scorer and All-Star center Alperen Sengun, and he's back tonight. L.A. is rolling but also the front of a back-to-back with LeBron maybe peeking ahead to a return to Miami on Thursday.
Doncic (hamstring) recently stated he is "100% healthy again," Dan Woike of The Athletic reports.
Knecht could receive a larger offensive opportunity following LeBron James' departure, as the Lakers have significant scoring to replace, Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times reports.
LaRavia could see an expanded role following LeBron James' departure, though the Lakers' additions of Matisse Thybulle, Ziaire Williams and Sandro Mamukelashvili should create added competition for frontcourt minute, Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Vanderbilt should continue to provide defensive value after LeBron James' exit from the Lakers, Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times reports.
Phillips signed a training camp contract with the Rockets on Friday, Paul Garcia of The Spot Up Shot reports.
Tshiebwe agreed to a contract with the Rockets on Friday.
Tate agreed to a one-year, $3.07 million contract with the Rockets on Thursday, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.com reports.
The Rockets signed Tate to a contract Thursday, per Adam Spolane of Sports Radio 610 Houston.
Kaluma agreed to a two-way deal with the Lakers on Monday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
Thybulle agreed to a one-year, $3.3 million contract with the Lakers on Monday, Shams Charania of ESPN reports.
