Rockets vs. Suns Recap: Booker, Maluach and Jabari Smith Props Cash

Phoenix beat Houston 102-99 in a game that swung back and forth all night. The Suns opened with a 35-23 first quarter, the Rockets answered by winning the second 24-12, and it was tied 47-47 at the half. There were 17 lead changes. Phoenix took the third 29-28 and the fourth 26-24 to close it out. The Suns moved the ball better, with 29 assists to Houston's 16, while the Rockets shot 10-of-35 from three. Seven DARIMARKET plays cashed on this game.

What cashed

ALT: Devin Booker 20+ points (-279 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Booker cleared 20 points in 9 of his last 10 and 18 of his last 20. At -279 (74% implied) we had it near 85% from recent games. - What happened: Booker scored 24 on 10-of-24 shooting in 39 minutes, 4.5 over the line. - Worth watching: His shot volume carries this number. At a price this short, a higher rung is worth checking first.

ALT: Khaman Maluach 6+ rebounds (+108 at FanDuel): CASHED - Our read: Maluach had 6+ rebounds in 9 of his last 10 and 12 of his last 20. At +108 (48% implied) we had it closer to 71%. - What happened: He grabbed 10 rebounds, 4 of them offensive, in just 18 minutes off the bench. That cleared the line by 4.5. - Worth watching: Plus money on a rebound line he keeps clearing is the kind of price we like. Minutes are the risk, so check his role first.

Khaman Maluach 12+ points + rebounds (-102 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Maluach cleared 12+ points + rebounds in 8 of his last 10 and 11 of his last 20. Near even money (50% implied) we had it around 65%. - What happened: 8 points on 3-of-4 shooting plus 10 rebounds made 18, 6.5 over the line. - Worth watching: The rebounds did most of the work here. When he also scores efficiently, the combo has room to spare.

Jabari Smith Jr. 21+ points + rebounds (-106 at FanDuel): CASHED - Our read: Smith cleared 21+ points + rebounds in 6 of his last 10 and 14 of his last 20. At -106 (51% implied) we had it near 63%. This was a long shot that landed. - What happened: Smith scored 15 on 7-of-12 shooting and pulled 9 rebounds in 39 minutes. That made 24, 3.5 clear. - Worth watching: 39 minutes is a heavy workload. If that holds, the combo line stays in play.

ALT: Devin Booker 25+ points + rebounds + assists (-514 at DraftKings): CASHED - Our read: Booker cleared 25+ points + rebounds + assists in 5 of 6 games this season, averaging 32.5. - What happened: 24 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists made 29, 4.5 over the line. The scoring did nearly all of it. - Worth watching: -514 is very expensive. This works best as a parlay leg, not a straight bet.

Miles Bridges 26+ points + rebounds + assists (-108 at FanDuel): CASHED - Our read: Bridges cleared 26+ points + rebounds + assists in 5 of 6 games this season, averaging 27.2. - What happened: Bridges filled the sheet with 13 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists in 31 minutes. That added up to 30, 4.5 clear. - Worth watching: He got there without a big scoring night. A combo line that can be reached three ways is a good fit for his game.

ALT: Jabari Smith Jr. 14+ points (-136 at FanDuel): CASHED - Our read: Smith hit 14+ points in 8 of his last 10 and 16 of his last 20. At -136 (58% implied) we had it near 76%. - What happened: He finished with exactly 15, clearing by 1.5. He made 7-of-12 from the field but only 1-of-4 from deep and did not attempt a free throw. - Worth watching: The margin was thin. Without free throws, his points lean on his shooting night, so the price matters.

How the game played out

Kevin Durant led Houston with 21 points and 10 rebounds and went 10-of-11 at the line. The Rockets got to the stripe far more, going 17-of-19 to Phoenix's 8-of-11, but the three-point gap and the assist gap went the other way. Phoenix's biggest lead was 19, Houston's was 6. Ryan Dunn was a +25 off the Suns bench.

Trends to watch

• Maluach's rebounding: 10 boards in 18 minutes, with 4 on the offensive glass.
• Smith's minutes: 39 in this one keeps his points and combo lines live.
• Booker's volume: 24 shots in 39 minutes is what drives his points and PRA numbers.

Stats are from the ESPN box score. More NBA coverage at /nba and NBA recaps. New to combo markets? Start with the player prop explainer.