The Los Angeles Lakers have taken a 2-0 lead in their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets, following victories on April 21 at home. The team, led by head coach JJ Redick, won Game 1 with a score of 107-98 and followed up with a 101-94 win in Game 2.
This early advantage is significant for both basketball fans and sports bettors. The Lakers had been considered long shots to win the NBA championship throughout the season, but their recent performance has prompted betting markets to reassess their chances.
In Game 1, LeBron James helped control the pace of play while the Lakers focused on defense and disciplined execution. Houston struggled offensively without Kevin Durant, who missed the opener. In Game 2, Durant returned for Houston but Los Angeles maintained control through timely shooting from LeBron James, Luke Kennard, and Marcus Smart. The Lakers were able to respond effectively to every push by the Rockets.
Before the playoffs began, most major sportsbooks listed the Lakers as one of the least likely teams to win an NBA title—sometimes with odds as high as +25000. In contrast, Houston was viewed as a more credible contender with odds around +10000 to +12500. Even after winning Game 1 at home, bookmakers continued to favor Houston based on expectations that Durant’s return would shift momentum when play moved back to Texas.
Now that Los Angeles holds a two-game advantage in this best-of-seven series—a position from which teams historically advance most of the time—their odds have improved sharply for both this round and overall championship futures. However, they remain behind leading favorites such as Oklahoma City Thunder (the defending champions), San Antonio Spurs, Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, and Cleveland Cavaliers due largely to ongoing injury concerns surrounding players like Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves.
If Los Angeles can close out this series quickly against Houston they may gain additional rest before future rounds—potentially further improving their chances if top contenders falter or suffer injuries themselves. For now though bookmakers remain cautious about moving too quickly given previous skepticism about this roster’s depth and health.
