The Phoenix Suns are bringing a loaded backcourt to Houston on Wednesday in the form of Chris Paul and Devin Booker, who were each All-Stars in 2020. Unfortunately for the Rockets, half of their duo of former All-Star guards remains sidelined for the time being.
For a fourth consecutive game, John Wall is listed as out due to left knee soreness. The Rockets will still have Victor Oladipo, who registered 32 points and 9 assists in his Houston debut on Monday, but Wall will be replaced in the starting lineup by Eric Gordon.
Danuel House Jr., who typically starts at small forward, also remains sidelined due to a mandatory self-isolation period. Veteran guard Sterling Brown is questionable with lower right leg soreness.
In the 2020-21 season, Houston’s best All-Star candidate is emerging big man Christian Wood, who is averaging 23.8 points (53.6%) and 10.7 rebounds per game this season. To beat an improving team like the Suns, Wood will likely need to win his matchup against DeAndre Ayton, who anchors the interior defense for Phoenix. Drafted No. 1 overall in 2018, Ayton ranks fifth in the NBA in rebounds at 11.7 per game.
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The lines, courtesy of BetMGM
- Point spread: Suns -5.5 (-110), Rockets +5.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Suns -225/Rockets +180
- Over-under: 218.5 (-110 O, -110 U)
- Player O/U Scoring Props: Christian Wood 21.5 (-125 O, +100 U); Victor Oladipo 21.5 (-105 O, -120 U), Eric Gordon 17.5 (-105 O, -120 U), PJ Tucker 5.5 (-120 O, -105 U); Devin Booker 23.5 (-120 O, -105 U), Chris Paul 15.5 (-115 O, -110 U), DeAndre Ayton 14.5 (-115 O, -110 U)
Place your legal, online sports bets in CO, IN, MI, NV, NJ, PA, TN, and WV at BetMGM.
From NBA.com’s official game notes, projected starters for the Suns are Chris Paul, Devin Booker, Cam Johnson, Mikal Bridges, and DeAndre Ayton. Meanwhile, the Rockets are listing Victor Oladipo, Eric Gordon, David Nwaba, PJ Tucker and Christian Wood.
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Advice and prediction
Wood has only scored below his 21.5 over/under number once in his last seven games, and he looked to gain increasingly better chemistry with Oladipo — a new acquisition — as Monday’s game moved along. The 6-foot-10 big man finished with 30 points, his second-most on the season to date. As such, Wood’s momentum makes him a strong bet, and the Rockets will need him to score to keep up with Booker and Paul.
Prediction: 117-113, Suns
Get more betting analysis and predictions at Sportsbook Wire.
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