by Chuck Sommers
Monday, Mar 21, 2022
Time: 8 p.m. ET
Venue: Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Where to watch: ATTSN-SW, NBCSWA
Opening Odds at USA Sportsbooks
DraftKings: Check back later
BetMGM: Check back later
Caesars: Check back later
Season record
Wizards: 30-40
Rockets: 17-54
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Wizards - Rockets preview and analysis
Wizards analysis
The Kristaps Porzingis era finally got off on the right foot in the nation's capital on Saturday night.
Porzingis, for at least one night, showed what he can do with his new team, going for 17 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter to help lead the Wizards to a 127-119 win over the Los Angeles Lakers to steal the shine from LeBron James becoming the second-best scorer in NBA history.
But it was Porzingis, acquired in a trade with the Dallas Mavericks on deadline day, who put his stamp on this game with an emphatic dunk on LeBron late, as well as the dagger 3-pointer with under a minute to go. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope had 18 points, and Deni Avdija and Daniel Gafford had 17 points each off the bench.
"Any time you have to go up against a guy like LeBron, you're in for a night," Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. said after James went off for 38 points. "He can go off at any point. He had a stretch there which was pretty amazing. The way he's playing right now, it's unbelievable."
Porzingis was traded for Spencer Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans in what I'd presume to be a last-chance effort to keep Bradley Beal happy. That would require Porzingis to stay healthy going forward, and who even knows if that's something that can happen? Time will tell on that front, but for these final 11 games left, it's Porzingis' chance to show he can be that guy and not play second fiddle to Luka Doncic. I don't even think that's something Wizards fans can get excited about.
Rockets analysis
It's all on the Houston Rockets to not finish like garbage with 11 games left. But miraculously, this horrendous season is going to come to an end with likely 60 losses on the ledger.
Houston has lost four straight and is coming off a 121-118 loss to the Indiana Pacers at home that dropped Houston to an astounding 17-54 record. Christian Wood had an incredible game, going off for 32 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists, and Jalen Green had 20 points but shot just 6 of 15 to get there.
"This is a disappointing loss, it really, really is," coach Stephen Silas said. "We couldn't come up with the stops we needed in the fourth. I'm disappointed for our guys... I haven't been like this all season, so I'm allowed every once in a while to be super down. But yeah they deserved this one."
It was just another night where it showed the Rockets have some talented young players that could be cornerstones for the future development of this group. Of course there's Green, their No. 2 overall pick from this past summer's draft, and Wood who they have committed to building around for the future.
What the Rockets do in the NBA Draft this summer is going to be interesting. They might get the No. 1 overall pick and will have their pickings of who else to have on the roster, whether it be Chet Holmgren, Paolo Banchero or Jabari Smith.
It might be a few more years before the Rockets can reach that next level, but certainly, there's going to be a young core to work on for the next few years.
Prediction
I wouldn't normally take the lesser team here, but there's something about how Houston can bounce back and play some sort of even-leveled game given the matchups. I'll be interested to see Kevin Porter Jr. and Green go against a not-as-athletic backcourt. That's where they can take advantage of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Raul Neto. Houston might not get it done, but when the spread comes out, I like Houston covering. Wizards by 2
Betting trends
The Wizards are 6-20 ATS this season in non-conference games.
The over is 9-1 for the Wizards in March this month.
The Rockets are 36-65 ATS at home the past three seasons.
Projected starting lineup
Wizards:
PG: Raul Neto
SG: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
SF: Corey Kispert
PF: Rui Hachimura
C: Kristaps Porzingis
Rockets:
PG: Kevin Porter Jr.
SG: Jalen Green
SF: Garrison Mathews
PF: Jae'Sean Tate
C: Christian Wood
Statistical leaders
Wizards:
Points: Kyle Kuzma -- 17.1
Rebounds: Kyle Kuzma -- 8.5
Assists: Kyle Kuzma -- 3.5
Rockets:
Points: Christian Wood -- 18.0
Rebounds: Christian Wood -- 10.2
Assists: Kevin Porter Jr. -- 6.0
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Chuck Sommers
About the Author:
Chuck Sommers has camped outside of sportsbooks since he can remember, learning the tricks and nuances of the trade. He still has nightmares of betting $5,000 on the Raiders in the Tuck Rule game but has since turned that to 25 years of veteran handicapping greatness. You can find him mostly in the shadows at the Red Rock or Aliante casinos wondering if the over is cashing on any given Sunday.
