The NBA tips off Monday night’s four-game slate with a matchup in Washington, D.C., where the Houston Rockets take on the Washington Wizards at 7:00 p.m. ET. While the Rockets are in the playoff race and the Wizards are definitely on the outside looking in, each roster has interesting stories to follow coming down the stretch. Let’s break down the matchup and find some Rockets at Wizards player prop bets that make sense this Monday night.
In the overall matchup, the Rockets are heavy 14.5-point road favorites, with the total set at 224.5 on DraftKings Sportsbook.
The Rockets lost a tough game on Saturday in Miami to fall to 37-22, which has them tied for third in the Western Conference. The Wizards have dropped four straight after also losing on Saturday and are only 16-43 on the year.
On the injury report, the Wizards listed Kyshawn George, Tristan Vukcevic and Anthony Gill as questionable, while several of the biggest names on their roster remain out with long-term injuries. George was upgraded to available on Monday afternoon. On the other side, the Rockets listed Jabari Smith Jr. out for a second straight game, but they do not have any questionable players coming into Monday.
Rockets at Wizards Best Prop Bets
Reed Sheppard 4+ 3PM (+142)
Sheppard will likely get a second straight start in place of Smith on Monday, and he’ll be in a very favorable spot against the Wizards, who have been a premium matchup for point guards all season.
Sheppard’s over/under for points and 3PM (three-pointers made) are both elevated, but the odds for this alternative 3PM line are nice and juicy.
Sheppard has been heating up lately, with at least four 3PM in six of his last eight, including each of his last four. With a spot start in his last game in place of Smith, he hit four 3PM against the Heat, who are a much tougher matchup in general.
Over the last week, he had five 3PM against the Jazz and seven 3PM against the Kings in a pair of matchups that are almost as favorable as this one shapes up to be.
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Bilal Coulibaly o9.5 Points (-127)
Coulibaly is working his way back into a regular role after an extended layoff earlier this season, and he has scored at least 10 points in six of his last seven games.
The 21-year-old from France is still a key part of the Wizards’ plans going forward, and he brings good energy and defense on the wing. He’s averaging 10.2 points per game in 26 minutes per game on the season, and 11.2 points in 24.5 minutes per game in his 11 games since Feb. 1.
Especially if George remains limited, Coulibaly should have no trouble getting the usage he needs to get over 10 points, and even with George playing on Saturday, Coulibaly scored 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting in 23 minutes.
Clint Capela u10.5 Points + Rebounds (-108)
Capela has stepped in as the Rockets’ primary backup center since Steven Adams’ season-ending injury. Even in an expanded role, though, Capela has played under 20 minutes in each of his six games since the All-Star break.
In each of those six games, Capela has come in under this prop line. He had 10 points plus rebounds in each of his last two games, so it’s possible he’ll get over this prop line if the game gets lopsided on Monday night.
He still came in under this prop even though he took seven field-goal attempts against the Heat. Normally, he’s much less aggressive on offense, attempting three field goals or fewer in each of his previous eight games.
Bonus Parlay Pick: Kyshawn George u5.5 Rebounds + Assists (-104)
If you’re building an SGP (Same Game Parlay) from this Monday matchup, adding in the under on George’s rebounds and assists boosts the odds of this late prop to a juicy +1300 for these four Rockets-Wizards bets.
George only played 15 minutes on Saturday while playing through his knee contusion. He poured in 14 points but only had three rebounds and one assist in those 15 minutes. Even if he’s extra aggressive in fewer minutes, his rebounds and assists will likely stay under this total. He has been under this total of assists and rebounds in seven of his last nine games, including four straight.
