The Washington Wizards and the Houston Rockets face off in a cross-conference game on Tuesday evening as Russell Westbrook makes his return to the Toyota Center. Houston will look to snap a three-game home losing streak, while Washington aims to improve on a disappointing 3-9 record this season. Davis Bertans, Deni Avdija, Rui Hachimura, Troy Brown, Ish Smith and Moritz Wagner are all listed as out for the Wizards due to the NBA's health and safety protocols. Christian Wood (ankle) is officially listed as doubtful for Houston.
Tip-off is set for 8 p.m. ET. The latest Wizards vs. Rockets odds from William Hill Sportsbook list Houston as a 3.5-point favorite, up one point from the opening line. The over-under for total points is set at 232.5. Before finalizing any Rockets vs. Wizards picks, be sure to see the NBA predictions and betting advice from SportsLine's proven computer model.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times, and it returned over $5,000 in profit on its top-rated NBA picks last season. The model is up nearly $8,100 over the past two-plus seasons. Dating back to last season, it is also on a stunning 69-40 roll on top-rated picks against the spread, returning almost $2,500 on those selections alone. Anybody who has followed it has seen huge returns.
Now, the model has set its sights on Rockets vs. Wizards. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Now, here are several NBA odds and betting trends for Wizards vs. Rockets:
- Wizards vs. Rockets spread: Rockets -3.5
- Wizards vs. Rockets over-under: 232.5
- Wizards vs. Rockets money line: Rockets -165; Wizards +145
- WASH: The Wizards are 6-6 against the spread in the last 12 games
- HOU: The Rockets are 2-5 against the spread at home this season
Why the Wizards can cover
The Wizards are missing key pieces, but they do have Bradley Beal and Westbrook. Beal leads the way with 34.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game, with Westbrook adding 18.0 points, 10.6 assists and 9.5 rebounds per contest. Washington is a top-eight offensive team, scoring 112.5 points per 100 possessions, and the Wizards rank second in the NBA in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.98).
The Wizards rank in the top 10 in assist rate (61.9 percent) and turnover rate (12.9 percent), while also generating free throw attempts at a top-five level. Defensively, Washington will have its hands full, but the Wizards are a top-five team in defensive rebounding, pulling down 76.0 percent of missed shots by their opponents.
Why the Rockets can cover
Even with Wood potentially unable to play, the Rockets have interesting talent to deploy, headlined by the backcourt duo of Victor Oladipo and John Wall. Houston's offense should be just fine as a result and, if nothing else, the Rockets can take solace in Washington's porous defense. The Wizards are currently the second-worst defense in the NBA on a per-possession basis, allowing 114.7 points per 100 possessions in 12 games.
Washington is also allowing an effective field goal percentage of 56.2 percent, a bottom-three figure in the league, and the Wizards are second-worst in free throw rate allowed. Houston will find a challenge in replacing Wood's production, but Washington is also short-handed from a roster standpoint, and there is nothing in their its profile to be worried about for the Rockets.
How to make Rockets vs. Wizards picks
SportsLine's model is leaning under on the total, with the teams projected to combine for 229 points. The model also says one side of the spread hits in almost 70 percent of simulations. You can get that pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Wizards vs. Rockets? And which side of the spread hits almost 70 percent of the time? Visit SportsLine now to find out which side of the Wizards vs. Rockets spread you need to jump on, all from the model that has crushed its NBA picks.
