Pro Basketball Picks: Houston Rockets vs. Washington Wizards

Houston Rockets vs. Washington Wizards
Saturday, 1/11/14, 7:00 PM EST
Opening Point Spread: Houston -2.5
Current Betting Line: Houston -2
Opening Total: 201.5
Current Total: 198
Odds Courtesy of Bookmaker

Washington Wizards SG Bradley Beal is lethal from long range

Houston had its two-game winning streak snapped last time out, as it suffered an 83-80 setback to the Atlanta Hawks as 2.5-point road favorites Friday, while going UNDER the betting total of 207. The Rockets were led by guard James Harden’s 25 points, but they missed third-leading scorer Chandler Parsons, who sat out with a knee injury. The team is 8-9 SU on the road this season, including a losing 2-3 mark versus Eastern Conference opponents, which is important to consider when making your pro basketball picks. Houston is 5-5 SUATS as road favorites of three or fewer points the last two-plus seasons.

The Rockets are third in the league in averaging 49.9 points per game in the paint, while they’ve averaged an NBA-high 31.4 free throw attempts. Houston split its two meetings with Washington a season ago, with Harden averaging 29.0 points in those contests, but the home team won each of those affairs. On the defensive end, the team stands fourth in the league in blocking 5.9 shots per game. Center Dwight Howard is the main defender in the paint, while he’s averaging 17.8 points and 12.9 rebounds.

Washington returns home after suffering a 93-66 defeat to the Indiana Pacers as nine-point road underdogs Friday, while going UNDER the betting total of 185.5. The Wizards have four of five probable starters averaging in double figures, with point guard John Wall leading the way in scoring 19.5 points a contest, which can’t be ignored when looking over the pro basketball odds page. The franchise is 7-8 SU at home this season, including a 2-4 mark versus Western Conference opponents. Washington is 9-8 SU and 9-6-3 ATS as home underdogs of three or fewer points the last two-plus seasons.

The Wizards rank fourth in the NBA in knocking down 38.4 percent of their shots from beyond the arc, with shooting guard Bradley Beal being the main threat from that area, as he’s second on the team in scoring 17.7 points a contest. Through the first 34 games this season, Washington is averaging 22.7 assists per game, which ranks 10th in the league.