Houston Rockets vs Washington Wizards Picks and Predictions November 11th 2024

Rockets vs Wizards November 11th 2024

At 8:00 ET, the Washington Wizards (2-6) will travel to the Toyota Center in Houston to take on the Rockets (6-4) in a non-conference matchup. The Rockets are currently favored by 13.5 points, and the over/under line is set at 226.5.

This game will be televised on SCHN.

Wizards vs. Rockets Key Information

Washington’s struggles continued on Sunday as they fell to 2-6 after a 121-94 loss to the Magic. The Wizards were +11.5 point underdogs going into the game but failed to cover the spread. The total points for the game were 215, falling short of the 223 O/U line.

Orlando took control with a 10-0 run, stretching the score from 47-40 to 57-40. Washington kept it close in the 1st and 2nd quarters, trailing 26-22 and 35-34, but the Magic pulled away in the 3rd, outscoring the Wizards 30-16, and continued to dominate in the 4th, winning the quarter 30-22.

In their 121-94 loss to the Magic, the Wizards struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 30.3% of their threes and making 10 in total. Jordan Poole led the way with 24 points, 13 of which came in the 2nd quarter.

Bilal Coulibaly added 20 points on 81.8% shooting, and Kyshawn George contributed 15 points, 14 of which came in the 2nd quarter. George also hit 4 threes at a 50% clip.

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Defensively, the Wizards struggled in the 2nd quarter, giving up 35 points, and allowed 30 points in both the 3rd and 4th quarters, leading to a 121-94 loss to the Magic. Washington allowed Orlando to shoot 45% from the field.

The Magic hit 17 threes at a 35% rate, and the Wizards sent them to the line 25 times, where they made 22 free throws. Washington gave up 15 offensive rebounds while recording 4 steals and 7 blocks.

The Rockets improved to 6-4 on the season with a 101-99 win over the Pistons on Sunday. Houston, who entered the game as -4 point favorites, didn’t cover the spread, and the total score of 200 points fell short of the 218.5 O/U line.

Houston jumped out to a 13-2 lead after an early 11-0 run. They were up 72-64 going into the 4th quarter after a strong 3rd, where they outscored Detroit 29-19, but the Pistons made it interesting by scoring 35 points in the final period.

Alperen Şengün led the Rockets to a win over the Pistons, scoring 27 points and grabbing 10 rebounds while shooting 64.7% from the field. Tari Eason added 18 points, including 10 in the 4th quarter, and Jalen Green contributed 15 points, with 8 coming in the final period.

As a team, the Rockets shot 40.9% from the field and struggled from beyond the arc, hitting just 7 threes at a 20.6% rate. Despite their shooting woes, they managed to score 101 points in the victory.

The Rockets put together a strong defensive performance on Sunday, holding the Pistons to 99 points while limiting them to 42% shooting from the field. Houston was particularly effective in the 1st and 3rd quarters, where they allowed just 17 and 19 points, respectively. However, they did give up 35 points in the 4th quarter but managed to hold on for the win.

From beyond the arc, the Rockets kept the Pistons in check, allowing just 11 made threes on 32% shooting. Detroit also went 16/23 from the free-throw line. Houston finished with 36 defensive rebounds while giving up 11 offensive boards and added 10 steals and 5 blocks.

We’re putting our money on the Rockets to win, and have the projected score sitting at 141-116. We also like them to cover the spread, so our recommendation is to bet on the Rockets at -13.5.

As for the total, the line is currently sitting at 226.5 and our model has the Wizards and Rockets finishing with a combined 257 points. Our pick is to take the over.

Rockets Ready to Keep Climbing Against Wizards

The Houston Rockets are on a mission to keep their recent momentum alive, and they’ll face off against the Washington Wizards Monday night to see if their winning formula holds up. Their latest game against the Detroit Pistons may not have been pretty, but the Rockets managed to grind out a 101-99 victory, their third win in four games, thanks to some old-school grit and hustle.

Rockets’ Blueprint: Rebounds and Resilience

Despite shooting just 40.9% from the field and struggling from beyond the arc (hitting only 7 of 34 three-pointers), the Rockets found a way to make it work. They leaned into their strengths, grabbing 17 offensive rebounds and limiting themselves to only 11 turnovers.

According to NBA stats, Houston ranks second in the league in offensive rebounding rate (35.9%) and fifth in turnover rate (12.5%). Those stats are a silver lining for a team that, admittedly, is still finding its shooting rhythm. Coach Ime Udoka emphasized that ball control and rebounding are fundamental to their success.

“That was a point of emphasis all year,” Udoka said. “We got nine more shots because of that and took care of the ball. As I always say, you can rely on your defense when the shots aren’t falling, so on the nights when they both click, you have a comfortable win. The nights where they’re not, you can still dig it out and figure out a way to get it done.”

Key Players Hustling on the Boards

Rebounding made all the difference for the Rockets against the Pistons. Alperen Sengun led with 10 rebounds, and Tari Eason came off the bench to snag nine boards in 27 minutes. Even though Fred VanVleet and Jabari Smith Jr. struggled from the floor (shooting a combined 5 for 21, including 1 for 11 on threes), they added 14 rebounds to help Houston stay competitive.

The Rockets have the offensive firepower to turn things around, but their ability to crash the boards and take care of the ball will continue to be critical assets as they work out the kinks in their shooting game.

Wizards’ Struggles: Defense and Depth Woes

On the flip side, the Washington Wizards come into this matchup on a four-game losing streak, including a 121-94 loss to the Orlando Magic on Sunday. The Wizards allowed two 30-point quarters in the second half of that game, showing cracks in their defense. They’ve missed the presence of Kyle Kuzma, their second-leading scorer and rebounder, and his absence was felt yet again as Orlando out-rebounded them by seven and converted 15 offensive boards into 22 points.

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One area of concern for Washington is rookie Alex Sarr’s rebounding. The 7-footer played 24 minutes against the Magic but managed just three rebounds. Sarr is showing promise as a rim protector—he blocked two shots and ranks fourth in the league in blocks per game—but if he’s going to be effective, his teammates will need to support him on the boards.

Wizards Coach on Sarr’s Development

Coach Brian Keefe acknowledges Sarr’s growth, especially in protecting the rim, but stresses the importance of team support in the rebounding department.

“I think Alex is growing and learning every game,” Keefe said. “We’re seeing things that he’s never seen before. I thought Alex came out and established a good presence at the rim early. We’ve got to keep helping him when he goes to shot-block and help him on the boards.”

The Showdown: Rockets’ Grit vs. Wizards’ Struggles

With both teams heading in different directions, this matchup could highlight the contrast between Houston’s rising resilience and Washington’s recent struggles. The Rockets’ focus on offensive rebounding and defense may give them the upper hand, while the Wizards will need to tighten up their defense and improve on the glass if they want to snap their losing streak.

Will the Rockets continue their climb with a gritty, all-hands-on-deck approach, or will the Wizards bounce back and surprise them? Either way, it’s shaping up to be a hard-fought battle.