The Houston Rockets are just 2-7 ATS through their last nine games, but I think they'll come flying out of the gates here after the All Star break and put a beating on the LA Lakers. Houston may not have covered the spread of late, but it has still won the majority of the games which is more than can be said of the Lakers who dropped 10 of their final 15 games before the All-Star break, including four of their last five.

Houston All Star guard James Harden has scored at least 30 points in each of the last 31 games and here starting center Clint Capela (thumb) is expected back in the lineup after missing the last 15 games.

With the Rockets 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings with the Lakers at Staples Center I think this looks like a very manageable spread to cover.

8* play on Houston Rockets.