NBA Basketball Odds: Houston at LA Lakers

The Rockets take on the Lakers in LA tonight. (AP Images)"]

The Houston Rockets look to bounce back from a tough loss and avoid being swept in the season series to the L.A. Lakers for the first time in seven years when they open a difficult portion of their schedule tonight at Staples Center.

The Rockets, who have already clinched a playoff berth, boast one of the league's top scoring defenses, but didn't look good in Wednesday's 114-109 loss to Phoenix. The Suns shot 54.3 percent from the field and scored 18 fast-break points.

Slowing down the 5.5-point favored Lakers won't be easy, either.
                             
Los Angeles is averaging 106.0 points on 51.2 percent shooting in winning the first three meetings of the season with Houston. The Lakers have had little trouble in those games, outscoring the Rockets by an average of 13.3 points.

Kobe Bryant is averaging 31.0 points against the Rockets and the Lakers' defense has done a stellar job of shutting down Houston's top scoring threats.

For the best in NBA basketball betting head to the Bodog Sportsbook.