How the Houston Rockets match up against the Los Angeles Lakers

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James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Season series predictions

The Rockets and the Lakers will meet three times this season. The first matchup between these two heavyweights will take place on Jan. 18 in Houston. The last two games, taking place on Feb. 6 and March 12, will both be played at Staples Center.

If the Lakers decide to play two big men with Anthony Davis and either JaVale McGee or Dwight Howard, their size advantage would give LA a huge advantage on the boards, leading to more second chance opportunities.

However, the Rockets were at a disadvantage on the boards over the course of all last season and they were a horrible defensive rebounding team, but that didn’t stop Houston from winning 53 games.

Houston’s first game against LA in January will be the second game of a four-game home stand for the Rockets. Both teams will have two full off days before the game, but it’s always been hard to win at Toyota Center, which gives Houston the edge in this first matchup.

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In the last two games, the Rockets won’t have to play a back-to-back before facing the Lakers and they’ll be traveling to LA after playing multiple games at home, so they should be plenty rested before every matchup with the Lakers this season. However, the Lakers will likely take a game at home, so my season series prediction favors the Rockets 2-1.