Tonight, the Houston Rocket battle the Phoenix Suns for the first time since the trade that sent Kevin Durant to H-Town over the offseason. While he won’t play tonight while dealing with a personal matter, these two teams will be inextricably linked for the foreseeable future after that blockbuster move. Any matchup between them is sure to provide plenty of drama thanks to the personalities on the floor like Dillon Brooks, setting up a potential grudge match in the desert.
Here are a couple of the best Rockets vs. Suns prop bets on DraftKings Sportsbook for Monday’s contest.
Best Rockets vs. Suns Player Prop Bets
Jabari Smith Jr. 3+ three-pointers made (+137)
With Durant out of the lineup tonight, the Suns are sure to key on All-Star center Alperen Sengun a little more than usual on the defensive side of the ball. That’ll open up opportunities for his teammates, with Jabari Smith Jr. a prime candidate to absorb some additional shots at forward. The former No. 3 pick earned a max extension over the offseason and is producing a career-best 14.9 PPG thus far while shooting 39.5% from three-point range, another career-high. The 22-year-old slots in at forward and has six games with three or more 3PM in 13 appearances this season, and the absence of Durant opens up plenty more volume. When defenders collapse on Sengun, watch for him to kick the ball out to open shooters such as Smith Jr. The 6-foot-10 forward can heat up in a hurry, so I like plus odds on this threes line tonight given the bump in expected shot attempts.
Dillon Brooks 20+ points (-116)
While not the prettiest available betting line or the flashiest name, Dillon Brooks is quietly playing some of the best ball of his career. As one of the pieces of the Durant trade, he’s proving doubters wrong and seems to have a real chip on his shoulder with the expanded role in Phoenix. The veteran wing averages a career-high 21.4 points per game this season while taking 17.0 shot attempts per contest, also the most of his career. With Grayson Allen (quad) sidelined again tonight, Brooks should play second fiddle to star guard Devin Booker in a featured role. While the Rockets’ defense is a tough one to crack, the veteran surely has this matchup circled on his calendar with the opportunity to go against his former team. Revenge game narratives are real, so with 20+ points in six of his 11 contests this campaign so far, I’m confident Brooks can make it happen again.
