Washington Wizards vs Houston Rockets Prediction

Washington Wizards vs Houston Rockets Prediction

In the second of their back-to-back slate, the Wizards (7-17) welcome franchise guard John Wall home for the first time since his trade to Houston (11-15) was completed, three weeks before this regular season began.

Wall recently told reporters he felt deserving of more honesty and respect from the team who drafted him eleven years ago, as speculation was rife about his future with the franchise. How will the five-time All-Star fare on this occasion, leading an understaffed Rockets team here overnight? 

Read my basketball preview, for the best betting odds ahead of this compelling H2H matchup.

Washington Wizards vs Houston Rockets Preview

Despite the homecoming storyline that will warrant column inches and attract media attention aplenty, Houston is focused on snapping a five-game losing streak - their longest of the campaign to date.

After winning six in a row through to Feb. 2, their 115-103 victory away in Memphis has been a rare source of respite for Stephen Silas' men, hamstrung by persistent injuries to key players.

Offseason acquisition Christian Wood, who is gaining traction ahead of a potential first All-Star berth next month, remains sidelined with an ankle sprain. Despite encouraging early flashes, Victor Oladipo (foot strain) hasn't established the right rhythm since joining as part of the four-team James Harden trade deal last month.

Washington holds the NBA's third-worst record, only Minnesota Timberwolves (7-20) and Detroit Pistons (8-19) have started the season in worse shape. However, they've been hurt by COVID-19 postponing multiple games, injuries to starting centre Thomas Bryant (ACL tear) and Russell Westbrook (quadriceps) among other issues.

Westbrook played 29 minutes in the Wizards' 104-91 win against Boston on Sunday evening but as a result of rest and recovery precautions, is yet to play the second of a back-to-back this term.

He was one rebound shy of recording another triple-double (13 points, 11 assists, 9 rebounds) and it'll be interesting to see how the likes of Raul Neto and Garrison Matthews fare with increased responsibility on their shoulders alongside NBA's scoring leader Bradley Beal here.

Washington Wizards vs Houston Rockets Betting Tips

ESPN's BPI is narrowly favouring Washington in this matchup, even with the knowledge they'll be without Westbrook (rest) and invaluable veteran G Ish Smith (quad). Both have injury problems, but it's hard to argue picking them, as you'd expect Beal to take over and carry them.

However, Wall will be motivated to win his first game back among familiar surroundings after their acrimonious departure last year. They were 107-88 winners in the reverse fixture on January 27, though Washington shot 5-of-26 from deep (19.2%) and had 20 turnovers that night.

I think it'll be closely contested down the stretch, but Washington should do enough to prevail eventually - so long as they don't struggle with their three-point shooting, so no pressure Davis Bertans!