The Wiz can't keep this kid in the gym and he will beat them inside and beat them to loose balls and score a ton of high-percentage shits. Washington is the worst rebounding team in the NBA and the worst paint-protecting team and it will show up right away against a rested Rockets team playing with energy and spirit. The emerging rookie is over this in 3 of his last 5 and poised to challenge this by halftime tonight.

This kid is taking his game to new levels the last few weeks and destroyed the Wiz's G-League roster last week from the opening jump, going for 11 boards in just 28 minutes and spending the final 16 minutes of that game watching a blowout. Wiz should put up enough fight to have him play over 30 mins this time. He's a match-up nightmare for this size-challenged and athletically-compromised Wiz roster

The Rockets dropped 135 on these guys last week and let their second team do plenty of heavy lifting getting there and they called off the horses in the 4th quarter. This game should be closer and the Rockets have no problem pushing the pace like the Wiz (these teams are 2 & 3 in NBA in pace this month). Visiting teams are over this (often by far) in 7 of last 11 games at WSH (plodding CHA, CLE and MIA went under it). HOU routinely scoring in high teens and above vs bad defensive teams. Could 70 in the paint alone again tonight.

Jabari Smith Jr. has moved over to the starting center spot with Alperen Sengun (ankle) out. Over the last three games since Sengun went down, Smith scored at least 15 points each time. That included scoring 16 points over just 26 minutes against the Wizards last week. The Wizards have played at the fastest pace and they have the worst defensive rating in the league, so look for Smith to use his added shot attempts to hit this over.

These teams just met in Houston and it was a total bloodbath. The Wiz tend to put up more fight on the road than at home and Houston should dominate them on the boards, above the rim and in the paint against Tues. Rockets are well rested and brimming with confidence winning 5 of a row and 7 of 8, with 6 of those wins coming by 8+ points. They've also covered 7 of the last 9. WSH has covered two of the last 9, keeps falling hopelessly behind games early and lacks talent and sufficient hustle. HOU scored 77 vs WSH in first half last week, out-rebounded them by 15 and scored 70 point in the paint. They'll be eager for more.