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Deandre Ayton #5 and Luke Kennard #10 of the Los Angeles Lakers reacts after making a three point shot during the second half of Game One of the First Round of the NBA Western Conference Playoffs against the Houston Rocketsat Crypto.com Arena on April 18, 2026 in Los Angeles, California.

The Los Angeles Lakers are now slight betting favorites (-135) to win their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets, a stunning turn of events after LeBron James and Co. opened the series as massive +550 underdogs.

The Lakers — playing without their two leading scorers — walked into both Games 1 and 2 as notable underdogs, only to stun the Rockets and seize a 2-0 lead. Per multiple sportsbooks, the Lakers were the fifth-biggest Round 1 underdog since 1998 entering the Houston matchup without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. Remarkably, they are now favored to win the series and advance to the second round.

Another reason to bet on the Lakers to beat the Rockets? LeBron James is 32-0 in his career when he jumps out to a 2-0 series lead, a streak that dates back to 2006.

Lakers NBA Finals Odds Jump

The Lakers have also seen their NBA Finals odds jump significantly since their gritty 101-94 win over the Rockets on Tuesday night. While they still have the eighth-shortest odds to win the title, their Finals odds have jumped from +15000 underdogs to +3500 underdogs since taking a 2-0 series lead vs the Rockets.

“When it comes to the NBA Finals, the Lakers are +3500 to win the title, a huge move from where they were prior to Game 2. L.A. was +15000 to win the title before this first-round matchup kicked off, but it quickly moved to +10000 after winning Game 1 as a home underdog,” Sports Illustrated’s Peter Dewey wrote.

“The Lakers then moved up to +7500 to win the title ahead of Tuesday’s Game 2, even with Durant set to play for Houston.

“Now, oddsmakers have the Lakers at +3500 to win the NBA Finals, good for the eighth-best odds in the NBA.”

Lakers Wait For Doncic, Reaves

Entering the series against the Rockets, many expected the Lakers to be either swept or lose in five games, given the injuries to Doncic and Reaves. However, with the Lakers now guaranteed at least a Game 6, there’s a realistic possibility that Reaves and perhaps even Doncic could see the floor before the end of the series.

The impending returns of Reaves and Doncic’s have perhaps also swayed the oddsmakers into believing in the Lakers. While they’re listed “out indefinitely” by the Lakers, there’s a glimmer of hope that Reaves could be back soon. Head coach JJ Redick on Tuesday confirmed reports that Reaves had resumed 1-on-1 drills for the first time since being diagnosed with a grade 2 oblique strain on April 3. .

“Austin [Reaves] has started a return to play [progression] but we don’t have a timeline update on him,” Redick said.

While reacting to Redick’s comments, sports medicine expert Dr. Evan Jeffries, DPT, laid out a possible return timeline for the Lakers star.

“This ramp up process typically takes 1 week in the regular season from 1-1 work, 3-3 work [and] 5-5 work. Then a player is cleared to return,” Jeffries wrote on X.

If Reaves is cleared in a week, he could return for Game 5 on April 29 or Game 6 on May 1. The Lakers vs. Rockets series will go to a Game 7 on May 3, if necessary.