Rockets at Wizards, March 19: Prediction, point spread, odds, best bet
With a 7-1 record in March and a five-game winning streak, the young Houston Rockets (32-35) are suddenly back in the mix for a spot in the 2023-24 Western Conference play-in tournament.
Even so, with a three-game deficit in the loss column and only 15 games left to play, Houston’s margin of error for any scenario where they eventually overtake the Los Angeles Lakers (36-32) and/or Golden State Warriors (35-31) remains extremely slim.
That makes any game versus a clearly inferior opponent, such as the Wizards (11-57) on Tuesday in Washington, absolutely critical to win.
If you’d like last-minute betting research, you’re in luck! We have the latest point spread, money line odds and over/under number, as well as all the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet.
Tuesday’s game tips at 6:00 p.m. Central and can be seen regionally on Space City Home Network and nationally via NBA League Pass.
Here’s a look at Tuesday’s lines:
- Point spread: Rockets -9.5
- Money line: Rockets -450 / Wizards +340
- Over/Under: 227.5
Rockets at Wizards injury report:
Houston’s lengthy injury report lists Steven Adams (right knee PCL surgery), Tari Eason (left tibia surgery), Alperen Sengun (right ankle sprain) and Cam Whitmore (right knee sprain) as out, while Nate Hinton and Jermaine Samuels Jr. are in the NBA G League.
The Wizards are listing Deni Avdija (right knee contusion), Marvin Bagley III (back sprain), Bilal Coulibaly (right wrist fracture), Tyus Jones (back sprain), Isaiah Livers (right hip inflammation), Eugene Omoruyi (right ankle sprain), and Landry Shamet (left calf strain) as out. In less certain news, Kyle Kuzma (left shoulder soreness) is questionable after missing Sunday’s game with that same designation.
Advice and prediction
The Rockets have an outstanding defensive rating in March, yet last Thursday’s matchup between these same teams (Rockets 135, Wizards 119) still featured 254 combined points due to the extremely fast pace that both groups played with.
The potential for a convincing Houston victory could help the “over” cause, as well, since teams naturally play with a bit less intensity (and often use players outside of the normal rotation) in the fourth quarters of games that have already been effectively decided.
We’ll take the Rockets to play with urgency in a game they need to win for postseason purposes, along with the over.
Prediction: Rockets 122, Wizards 111
Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.
