DC3: Three questions for Washington Wizards at Houston Rockets

Who Will Win the Free-Throw Battle?

No player may draw more ire than Harden in terms of drawing fouls, but the Wizards and Rockets are actually evenly matched when it comes to getting to the free-throw line. The Wizards shoot an average of 25.3 free-throws per game and the Rockets are close behind at exactly 24.

Both teams are also close to the top in opponent free-throw attempts per game, but on the wrong side of that list. The Wizards and Rockets rank seventh- and eighth-worst, respectively, separated by a single tenth of a percentage point (25.7 and 25.2 per game).

Harden and Wall are among the league’s best at getting to the line, although Harden is in his own class. He leads the league in 10.2 free-throw attempts per game, nearly doubling Wall at 5.6 per game even though it still puts the Wall at 18th overall.

In their previous match-up, the Wizards got the better of the Rockets, taking 32 free-throws compared to Houston’s 27. While Harden shot 15 of those free throws, Wall got himself to the line 11 times, well above his average. In a close game like that one, that aggressiveness definitely helped contribute to the difference and could do so again in the rematch.