Lakers @ Rockets

Who will WIN this matchup?

Los Angeles Lakers (17-10)

@ Houston Rockets (12-14)

Current odds:

Los Angeles Lakers: (+200)

Houston Rockets: (-240)

• The line for this game is Rockets by 5.5 points.

• The Los Angeles Lakers look to continue their sustained run when they visit the Houston Rockets on Thursday. Los Angeles has overcome a 2-5 start by winning 15 of its last 20 games as it seemingly has adjusted to LeBron James’ style of play. James had 28 points, 12 assists and nine rebounds in Monday’s 108-105 victory over the Miami Heat and he has scored 20 or more points in seven straight games and 16 of the last 17. Small forward Brandon Ingram (ankle) will miss his fourth straight game and the team is hoping the 21-year-old will return sometime next week.

• Houston halted a three-game slide with a 111-104 home win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday behind 29 points from guard James Harden. “We did a good job of just competing, playing harder,” Harden told reporters afterward. “That was really it – playing harder and got into them. We were a little more aggressive. Good things seem to happen when you play harder.”

• Forward Kyle Kuzma poured in 33 points in the triumph over Miami for his sixth career 30-point outing and he has put together five straight efforts of 20 or more points. Kuzma is averaging 25 points and 8.2 rebounds and has drained 15 3-pointers during the stretch. “Offensively he’s done a nice job recently of slowing down, still being aggressive,” Los Angeles coach Luke Walton told reporters, “but just slowing down with the actual moves, getting on balance, those types of things.”

• The Houston reserves were big factors in Tuesday’s win as they outscored the Portland backups 37-13 and fueled runs in both halves. Guard Gerald Green (13 points on 5-of-6 shooting), wing Danuel House (12 points) and center Nene (10 points on 5-of-7 shooting) were part of seven Rockets to score in double digits. “They won the game for us,” Houston coach Mike D’Antoni told reporters of the bench. “They turned it around when we were down 15, and they came in, and Nene, Danuel House and Gerald put in a lot of energy.”

• The Rockets have won the past three meetings and 19 of the last 25, including a 124-115 road win on Oct. 20.

• Ingram (four games), Lakers PG Rajon Rondo (three games) and Rockets PG Chris Paul (two games) were all ejected and suspended after an altercation during the October meeting.

• The Lakers have lost five of their past six visits to Houston.