<p>Game 5 will take place in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 30, at 13:00 AEST.</p><h2>&nbsp;</h2><h2>Quick Picks</h2><p><strong>Our pick: </strong>Lakers to win</p><p><strong>Value bet: </strong>Lakers in the handicap</p><p><strong>Long shot: </strong>Marcus Smart to have 6+ assists</p><h2>&nbsp;</h2><h2>Betting Preview</h2><p>The Lakers have enjoyed their series against the Rockets thus far, having won the first three games before the Rockets won the most recent.</p><p>As the #4 seeds, they started their series at home with back-to-back victories, winning 107-98 and 101-94. They would then follow that up with a victory in Game 3 in Houston, 112-108.&nbsp;</p><p>The Rockets would make sure it wouldn’t be a clean sweep and give themselves some hope of remaining in the NBA Playoffs with a 115-96 victory in Game 4.</p><p>They’ll need another big-time performance when they head back to California; if they don’t’, it will be the Lakers who will go on to face the #1 seed Oklahoma City Thunder (who swept the Phoenix Suns 4-0).</p><h2>&nbsp;</h2><h2>Betting Markets to Watch</h2><p>However, things don’t look too positive for the Rockets when it comes to playoff basketball in Los Angeles.&nbsp;</p><p>The Lakers have won each of their last eight Western Conference First Round home games against the Rockets. It’s a reason why the <strong>Purple &amp; Gold are considered the early betting favourites</strong> in this game.</p><p>We think there might be more value worth exploring in the <strong>handicap market for the Lakers</strong> over their moneyline, though. They’ve been set a line of -2.5, which the Lakers have covered in each of their last four home games.&nbsp;</p><p>With the odds slightly longer than the moneyline, we think this offers good value to consider.</p><p>Further value could be found in the <strong>1st half winner market</strong>, with the Los Angeles Lakers having won the first half in nine of their last 10 home games. We think it’s likely that this trend continues in this upcoming clash.</p><p>For more potential value, the <strong>total points market</strong> is also worth considering. The line has been set at 208.5 points.&nbsp;</p><p>The <strong>under</strong> offers potential value to bettors, as seven of the Lakers' last eight home games have gone under the total match points line.</p><h2>&nbsp;</h2><h2>Our Prediction</h2><p>Check the latest <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/basketball-us/nba/houston-rockets-at-los-angeles-lakers-10413915">NBA Lakers vs Rockets betting odds</a> at Sportsbet.</p><p>Our prediction is that the <strong>Los Angeles Lakers are likely winners</strong>. We think their record against the Rockets at home in playoff basketball is too hard to ignore, as were the two wins in LA earlier in the series.</p><p>Our long shot is for <strong>Marcus Smart to have 6+ assists</strong>, as he has recorded seven or more assists in each of the Lakers' last four home games.</p>