They’re not used to being the underdog (especially a big one) in the first round of the playoffs.
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But with Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves sidelined for at least the first part of Los Angeles’ Round 1 matchup against Kevin Durant and the Grade 2-rated Houston Rockets, that’s exactly where the Lakers find themselves.
Los Angeles opened as a +550 underdog against Houston in Round 1 at BetMGM sportsbooks, with the Rockets a heavy -800 favorite. It’s the fifth-biggest loser the Lakers have had in first-round series since 1988, according to Sports Odds History, and the biggest since going +650 against the San Antonio Spurs in 2013.
The Spurs swept the Lakers 4-0 in that series.
Los Angeles has been a +550 underdog or worse four other times in that time span, and has not won any of the series. Of course, in three of them, the Lakers were at least 10-1 (9% implied probability), including 20-1 against the Phoenix Suns in 1993.
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Can LeBron pull off some more postseason magic and at least extend the series until Reaves or Doncic can return?
The Rockets are 4.5-point road favorites in Game 1 on Saturday (8:30 p.m. ET, ABC).