One of only three Tuesday matchups in the NBA sees the Washington Wizards travel to Houston to face the Rockets.  This will be the first meeting since the off-season blockbuster trade that put Russell Westbrook in a Wizards uniform and sent John Wall down to Texas.

The Rockets opened as 1.5-point favourites to win with an opening total of 230.5.

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

These teams only met once last season, but they almost scored enough for a couple meeting’s worth of points.  Houston pulled away with a 159-158 win in Washington, a score that seems more like an all-star or video game.  The since-traded James Harden had 59 points for the Rockets, while Bradley Beal had 46 points for the Wizards.

Despite a losing record, Washington has third-highest scoring offence in the league, averaging 118 points per game, while their defence gives up the most points per game in the NBA, averaging 121.25 points per game.  With numbers like that, it’s not surprising to see the the Wizards have hit the Over in eight of their 12 games this year, including six of their last eight games.  Washington is 6-6 against the spread, covering four times on the road.

It’s generally high scoring games between these teams.  The total has gone Over in five of Houston’s last six games at home against Washington, and four of their last five games against the Rockets overall.  The Rockets have only hit the Over once at home, this season, and they are 6-9 ATS.

Washington Wizards

Russell Westbrook is returning to Houston for the first time since the blockbuster trade that swapped him for John Wall in the off-season. It hasn’t exactly gone the way Washington had hoped when they picked up Westbrook. The Wizards have missed six games due to COVID-19 protocols and only have three wins on the year. Westbrook hasn’t played like the superstar that Washington thought he was and he is coming off a nine-point game in the Wizards’ 121-101 blowout loss to the Spurs on Monday. For the season, Westbrook is averaging 18 points, 9.5 rebounds and 10.6 assists.

Bradley Beal, who finished with a game-high 31 points on Monday, has been the only bright spot for Washington. Beal is averaging a league-high 34.5 points per game, to go along with 5.5 rebounds and 4.9 assists, and he has scored at least 20 points in 34 straight games. With Beal playing at such an elite level and the Wizards very near the bottom of the league, there are several trade rumours circling around Beal, possibly making his time left in Washington limited.

Houston Rockets

The Rockets are 3-3 since trading the disgruntled James Harden, which is actually a better pace than when Harden was in the lineup. Coming into this game as winners of their last two games, Houston is playing with momentum. The Rockets crushed Dallas 133-108 on Saturday, with Eric Gordon (game-high 33-points) and DeMarcus Cousins (28 points, 17 rebounds, five assists) leading the way. Former Wizards star, John Wall, has missed time with a knee injury, but looks like he is fully healthy again and is averaging 17.1 points per game, 4.3 rebounds and 5.5 assists.

Even amid all the James Harden drama, Eric Gordon has been a key difference maker for the Rockets, this season. His season-best 33 points against the Mavericks brings his average to 17.8 points per game. Gordon has continued to player better each game since the Harden trade and he’ll play a big part against Washington on Tuesday.

NBA Prediction: Who Will Win Wizards vs. Rockets?

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Wizards Team Leaders

WAS

Points	Bradley Beal 31.3
Assists	Russell Westbrook 11.74
Rebounds	Russell Westbrook 11.54
FG%	Daniel Gafford 68.1
Steals	Russell Westbrook 1.37
Blocks	Daniel Gafford 1.78

HOU

Points	James Harden 24.75
Assists	James Harden 10.38
Rebounds	Christian Wood 9.63
FG%	Cameron Oliver 57.6
Steals	Khyri Thomas 1.8
Blocks	Khyri Thomas 1.2

WAS

Points	Bradley Beal 30
Assists	Russell Westbrook 11.8
Rebounds	Russell Westbrook 10.4
FG%	Daniel Gafford 84.6
Steals	Ish Smith 1.4
Blocks	Daniel Gafford 2

HOU

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

• Regular Season
• Playoffs

Rockets Team Leaders

WAS

Points	Bradley Beal 31.3
Assists	Russell Westbrook 11.74
Rebounds	Russell Westbrook 11.54
FG%	Daniel Gafford 68.1
Steals	Russell Westbrook 1.37
Blocks	Daniel Gafford 1.78

HOU

Points	James Harden 24.75
Assists	James Harden 10.38
Rebounds	Christian Wood 9.63
FG%	Cameron Oliver 57.6
Steals	Khyri Thomas 1.8
Blocks	Khyri Thomas 1.2

WAS

Points	Bradley Beal 30
Assists	Russell Westbrook 11.8
Rebounds	Russell Westbrook 10.4
FG%	Daniel Gafford 84.6
Steals	Ish Smith 1.4
Blocks	Daniel Gafford 2

HOU

Points
Assists
Rebounds	Did not qualify
FG%
Steals
Blocks

Injuries

Washington

Russell Westbrook (PG)

Prob Wed Ankle - 01 / 06 / 21

Davis Bertans (PF)

Ques Wed Calf - 31 / 05 / 21

Ish Smith (PG)

Prob Mon Groin - 30 / 05 / 21

Russell Westbrook (PG)

Prob Mon Ankle - 30 / 05 / 21

Russell Westbrook (PG)

Ques Sat Ankle - 27 / 05 / 21

Garrison Mathews (SG)

Prob Sun Wrist - 15 / 05 / 21

Raul Neto (PG)

Prob Tues Hamstring - 14 / 05 / 21

Chandler Hutchison (SF)

Prob Thurs Knee - 06 / 05 / 21

Rui Hachimura (PF)

Prob Sat Illness - 05 / 05 / 21

Robin Lopez (C)

Prob Wed Ankle - 26 / 04 / 21

Houston

Khyri Thomas (SG)

Out Sun Achilles - 15 / 05 / 21

DaQuan Jeffries (SG)

Ques Fri Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21

Danuel House Jr. (SF)

Out Sun Ankle - 11 / 05 / 21

Kelly Olynyk (PF)

Ques Mon Ankle - 08 / 05 / 21

Avery Bradley (SG)

Out indefinitely Personal - 06 / 05 / 21

Kelly Olynyk (PF)

Prob Fri Ankle - 06 / 05 / 21

Jae'Sean Tate (SF)

Ques Sat Knee - 05 / 05 / 21

Kevin Porter Jr. (SG)

Out Sun Ankle - 05 / 05 / 21

Christian Wood (PF)

Out indefinitely Ankle - 03 / 05 / 21

D.J. Wilson (PF)

Out indefinitely Illness - 02 / 05 / 21

Injuries

Washington

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Russell Westbrook (PG)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 01 / 06 / 21	1-0	1-0	+ -
Westbrook is nursing a ankle injury, but he is likely to be in the lineup for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the 76ers.
Davis Bertans (PF)	Ques Wed	Calf - 31 / 05 / 21	1-1	2-0	+ -
Bertans is battling a right calf strain, and it is undetermined if he will suit up for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the 76ers.
Ish Smith (PG)	Prob Mon	Groin - 30 / 05 / 21	1-1	2-0	+ -
Smith is bothered by a left groin injury, but it is likely that he will face the 76ers in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round.
Russell Westbrook (PG)	Prob Mon	Ankle - 30 / 05 / 21	1-1	2-0	+ -
Westbrook is hindered by a right ankle sprain, but it is anticipated that he will be active for Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round versus the 76ers.
Russell Westbrook (PG)	Ques Sat	Ankle - 27 / 05 / 21	1-2	2-1	+ -
Westbrook is bothered by a right ankle injury, and it remains to be seen if he will be in the lineup for Game 3 of the Eastern conference first round versus the 76ers.
Garrison Mathews (SG)	Prob Sun	Wrist - 15 / 05 / 21	3-3	3-3	+ -
Mathews is managing a wrist injury, but he is expected to face the Hornets on Sunday.
Raul Neto (PG)	Prob Tues	Hamstring - 14 / 05 / 21	4-3	3-4	+ -
Neto is dealing with a hamstring injury, but he is likely to be active for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Play-In versus the Celtics.
Chandler Hutchison (SF)	Prob Thurs	Knee - 06 / 05 / 21	6-4	7-4	+ -
Hutchinson was lifted from the last game due to a left knee contusion, but it is projected that he will play against the Raptors on Thursday.
Rui Hachimura (PF)	Prob Sat	Illness - 05 / 05 / 21	7-4	8-4	+ -
Hachimura has been sidelined while going through the NBA's health and safety protocols, but it is projected that he will return against the Pacers on Saturday.
Robin Lopez (C)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 26 / 04 / 21	11-5	11-6	+ -
Lopez missed the last game with a left ankle sprain, but it is projected that he will take on the Lakers on Wednesday.

Houston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Khyri Thomas (SG)	Out Sun	Achilles - 15 / 05 / 21	2-0	2-0	+ -
Thomas exited the last contest with an Achilles injury, and he will not play against the Hawks on Sunday.
DaQuan Jeffries (SG)	Ques Fri	Ankle - 12 / 05 / 21	3-0	3-0	+ -
Jeffries sat out the previous game with right ankle soreness, and it is undetermined if he will partake in Friday's tilt against the Clippers.
Danuel House Jr. (SF)	Out Sun	Ankle - 11 / 05 / 21	4-0	4-0	+ -
House Jr. has missed the previous two games with right ankle soreness, and he will not be available Sunday versus the Hawks.
Kelly Olynyk (PF)	Ques Mon	Ankle - 08 / 05 / 21	5-0	5-0	+ -
Olynyk sat out the last game with an ankle injury, and it is up in the air if he will suit up Monday versus the Trail Blazers.
Avery Bradley (SG)	Out indefinitely	Personal - 06 / 05 / 21	5-1	6-0	+ -
Bradley has been absent from the lineup due to a personal reason, and there is no timetable for return.
Kelly Olynyk (PF)	Prob Fri	Ankle - 06 / 05 / 21	5-1	6-0	+ -
Olynyk is hampered by a right ankle sprain, but it is likely that he will participate in Friday's matchup with the Bucks.
Jae'Sean Tate (SF)	Ques Sat	Knee - 05 / 05 / 21	5-2	7-0	+ -
Tate was held out of the last game with a knee injury, and it has yet to be established if he will play against the Jazz on Saturday.
Kevin Porter Jr. (SG)	Out Sun	Ankle - 05 / 05 / 21	5-2	7-0	+ -
Porter Jr. has missed the previous four games with a left ankle sprain, and he will not suit up for Sunday's tilt versus the Hawks.
Christian Wood (PF)	Out indefinitely	Ankle - 03 / 05 / 21	5-2	7-0	+ -
Wood is sidelined with quadricep and ankle tightness, and there is no timetable for his return.
D.J. Wilson (PF)	Out indefinitely	Illness - 02 / 05 / 21	5-3	7-1	+ -
Wilson is going through the NBA's health and safety protocols, and it has yet to be established when he will return.