With LeBron James aiming to break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record and make history, the Los Angeles Lakers are in a strong position to defeat the Houston Rockets. 

On Monday night, LeBron James will lead the Los Angeles Lakers in their matchup against the Houston Rockets and has an excellent chance of coming out on top. Last week, James achieved a remarkable milestone, surpassing 38,000 career points and is on track to break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's 38,387-point record next month. At 38 years of age, he is still as productive as ever, having averaged 29.2 points in 33 games this season.

The Lakers have had a good run of success in recent weeks, winning four games in a row to begin the month. Although they have lost their last three games, they have been very competitive in each matchup. Their first-half defense, coupled with the performance of their second unit, led by Sixth Man of the Year Award winner Bobby Jones, has been a key factor in their successes. Patrick Beverley has been a great pickup and provides defense and rebounding that have been essential for the Lakers. Los Angeles has the third-best Defensive Rating in the second quarter (106.5), and this rating rises to second-best (102.6) when looking at home games. 

On the other hand, the Rockets have been struggling, with their last win coming against the Bulls on December 26. They put up a good fight against the Clippers yesterday, but ultimately fell short. They will be without Jalen Green and Jae'Sean Tate, who are serving one-game suspensions, but the return of starters Green and Tate should help the Rockets, as they will provide much-needed scoring. Alperen Sengun has been a great passer and could be effective in give-and-go scenarios, and his post moves could force opponents to send help his way.

The Rockets are 28th in the NBA allowing 114.8 points per 100 possessions, and the Lakers' defensive efficiency has dropped in the bottom 10 of the NBA since Anthony Davis went down with his injury (104.7). The Lakers have beaten Houston five games in a row at home and have a 7-1 record against the spread in their last 8 games against the Rockets, making them a solid pick to win. With LeBron James leading the Lakers, their chances of coming out on top are high.