The NBA season and the NBA Draft have come and gone but that doesn't mean we have to wait until the new season to get our basketball fix. The NBA 2K25 Summer League kicks off this week with the 2024 rookie class and top prospects battling it out for the Summer League Championship.

This is where players may not have been lottery picks or even picked at all to showcase their skills for their team to obtain a roster spot in the upcoming 2024/2025 NBA season. Let's kick things off with a matchup between the 2023 Summer League Champions the Houston Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers.

With that said, we take a look at this NBA 2K25 Summer League matchup to make a Rockets-Lakers prediction and pick.

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Houston Rockets NBA Summer League Team Analysis

Houston Rockets (0-0)?certainly are excited to see the No. 3 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft Reed Sheppard in action. He came into this year's draft as the best pure shooter which will give this Summer League Rockets squad that dynamic outside shooting that will give the Lakers some problems.

• Also, Sheppard is a menace on the court being able to do a bit of everything where he averages 2.5 steals and 4.5 assists as one of the primary playmakers for Kentucky last season.

That's not the only player we should be looking out for as Sheppard will be accompanied by a great supporting summer league cast that went deep in the tournament last year.

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With players like the Rocket's 2022 lottery pick AJ Griffin and last year's summer league MVP Cam Whittmore. Going against a young and inexperienced team like the Lakers gives them an edge in this summer league matchup.

Wouldn't expect the Rockets to run their No. 3 pick Sheppard to the ground in the first summer league action but he should get enough playing time to be a factor as the rest of the squad finishes the job in an attempt to get the win.

Los Angeles Lakers NBA Summer League Team Analysis

Los Angeles Lakers (0-0) comes into this year's summer league with all of the attention after they drafted Bronny James with the 55th overall pick in the NBA Draft. He certainly is having some growing pains early on this summer but he still will be the talk of the entire summer league especially in their first matchup against the Rockets.

However, the Lakers are looking like they might have gotten the steal of the NBA Draft when they drafted Dalton Knecht with the 17th overall pick.

• He's been lighting it up early this summer and he will be the focal point of this summer league squad for the Los Angeles Lakers.
• While Bronny James may get the added attention from the media, Knecht will be the one to light up the scoreboard on game day.

As for this matchup goes the Lakers will need to do a better job at being efficient from the floor than have been during the California classic if they want to become victorious in their first game in the NBA 2K25 Summer League.

If they can do that they will really be the talk of the summer league as they come away with their first win of the tournament.

BEST SUMMER LEAGUE BETS TODAY: ROCKETS Vs LAKERS FANDUEL ODDS FOR JULY 12TH

MONEY LINE

• HOUSTON ROCKETS: -250
• LOS ANGELES LAKERS: +198

SPREAD

• HOUSTON ROCKETS: -5.5 (-110)
• LOS ANGELES LAKERS: +5.5 (-110)

OVER/UNDER (TOTAL)

• OVER 181.5 (-113)
• UNDER 181.5 (-113)

BEST ODDS FOR HOUSTON ROCKETS VS. LOS ANGELES LAKERS

• The Houston Rockets are -5.5-point favorites against the Los Angeles Lakers. BetMGM currently has the best odds at -4.5 (-110)
• The Los Angeles Lakers are the underdogs by 5.5 points to cover the spread. FanDuel currently has the best odds at +5.5 (-110)
• BetMGM currently has the best odds for the total, which is set at 180.5 (-110) for the over, and (-110) for the under

HOUSTON ROCKETS Vs LOS ANGELES LAKERS INJURY REPORT

CLEVELAND CAVALIERS INJURY REPORT

• NONE

ORLANDO MAGIC INJURY REPORT INJURY REPORT

• NONE

FINAL ROCKETS-LAKERS PICK & PREDICTION

The Houston Rockets should have a leg up in the NBA 2K25 Summer League opener when it comes to their experience. Players like Whittmore and Griffin have recent NBA summer league experience and will be the difference maker in this matchup.

With the little experience that the Lakers have coming into this game, it'll be tough for them to overcome as the Rockets just edge this one out in a closely contested matchup.

FINAL ROCKETS-LAKERS PICK & PREDICTION: HOUSTON ROCKETS -5.5 (-110)

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