The Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors have gone in two very different directions this season. As the second half of the NBA season begins after the All-Star break, they are both in search of a much higher level of play as they push toward the playoffs.

As the Rockets travel to San Francisco for a Thursday night TNT national television game, which is the better play to make?

NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis

The Rockets are 34-20 overall but are just 27-27 against the spread (ATS). They are 12-15 ATS in road games and have covered seven of their last 12 overall. They won the first meeting between the teams with a 129-112 results on November 6^th in Houston but the Warriors surprisingly bounced back with a 116-104 win at home on Christmas Day.

Golden State is 7-19 straight up at home this season and have lost 19 of their last 22 games overall. As bad as they’ve been straight up, they are 26-28-1 against the spread, so they are OK in that regard.

Houston Rockets

The Rockets closed well before the All-Star break, winning five of their last seven games. Houston scored wins in that seven-game stretch at the Los Angeles Lakers, the team with the best record in the Western Conference, and the Boston Celtics, a team with a top-three record in the Eastern Conference.

James Harden is, of course, the ringleader and orchestrator for the Rockets. He’s averaging 32.7 points per game over his last six contests, scoring at least 40 points three times while topping 28 or more five times.

The big thing you have to watch for with the Rockets is that during the All-Star break, their reconfigured roster has a chance to learn how to play better together. The Rockets acquired Robert Covington before the break and traded away Clint Capela. They’ve also now picked up Jeff Green and DeMarre Carroll. The Rockets are always wheeling and dealing at the trade deadline but it’s unclear if any of these recent transactions really move the needle.

Golden State Warriors

It’s been a lost season for the Warriors, who are now simply trying to develop their young players such as Eric Paschall and Marquese Chriss. Coach Steve Kerr is trying to create a new competitive culture with his untested players, so that next season, when Steph Curry and Klay Thompson return from injuries, Golden State will have a more complete team with a deep bench which can play significant quality minutes to preserve the starters. However, while the Warriors are trying to compete every night, it remains that they are a short-handed bunch due to the absences of Curry and Thompson.

The Warriors have a new-look roster as well as Houston does. Golden State shipped D’Angelo Russell to the Minnesota Timberwolves and got Andre Wiggins in return. Wiggins is a former No. 1 draft pick who has underachieved in a big way but the Warriors are hoping to groom him into a third option behind Curry and Thompson for next season. If he develops in that role, the Warriors will again be a championship contender.

Wiggins has averaged 23 points in three games with Golden State, but among players who have played for Golden State the whole season (and are still on the roster), Alec Burks leads the Warriors with 16.1 points per game.

Who Will Win Rockets vs. Warriors?

Injuries

Houston

Tyson Chandler (C)

Out Sat Neck - 12 / 09 / 20

Robert Covington (SF)

PRob Thurs Head - 09 / 09 / 20

Danuel House Jr. (SF)

out for season Personal - 08 / 09 / 20

Danuel House Jr. (SF)

Ques Sun Head - 05 / 09 / 20

Luc Mbah a Moute (PF)

Out indefinitely Knee - 19 / 08 / 20

Danuel House Jr. (SF)

Prob Tues Toe - 10 / 08 / 20

Bruno Caboclo (SF)

Out Sun Ankle - 01 / 08 / 20

Eric Gordon (SG)

Prob Wed Ankle - 28 / 07 / 20

DeMarre Carroll (SF)

Prob Sun Hamstring - 27 / 07 / 20

Austin Rivers (PG)

day to day Personal - 24 / 07 / 20

Golden State

Marquese Chriss (PF)

day-to-day Knee - 11 / 03 / 20

Juan Toscano-Anderson (SF)

Out indefinitely Ankle - 10 / 03 / 20

Stephen Curry (PG)

day-to-day Flu - 07 / 03 / 20

Alen Smailagic (PF)

day-to-day Quadricep - 04 / 03 / 20

Kevon Looney (PF)

out for season Abdominal - 01 / 03 / 20

Alen Smailagic (PF)

Out indefinitely Quadricep - 01 / 03 / 20

Draymond Green (PF)

Out indefinitely Knee - 29 / 02 / 20

Ky Bowman (PG)

Prob Tues Ankle - 28 / 02 / 20

Jordan Poole (SG)

Prob Sun Ankle - 28 / 02 / 20

Andrew Wiggins (SF)

Prob Sat Back - 27 / 02 / 20

Injuries

Houston

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Tyson Chandler (C)	Out Sat	Neck - 12 / 09 / 20	0-1	0-1	+ -
Chandler is dealing with neck spasms and will sit out Game 5 of the Western Conference second round against the Lakers.
Robert Covington (SF)	PRob Thurs	Head - 09 / 09 / 20	0-3	1-2	+ -
Covington is battling headache, but it is projected that he will line up in Game 4 of the Western Conference second round versus the Lakers.
Danuel House Jr. (SF)	out for season	Personal - 08 / 09 / 20	0-3	1-2	+ -
House Jr. will not be permitted to participate in the remainder of the postseason due to a violation of bubble protocol.
Danuel House Jr. (SF)	Ques Sun	Head - 05 / 09 / 20	1-4	1-4	+ -
House Jr. is tending to a head injury, and it is unclear if he will suit up for Game 2 of the Western Conference second round versus the Lakers.
Luc Mbah a Moute (PF)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 19 / 08 / 20	4-7	4-7	+ -
Mbah a Moute has a left knee effusion, and there is no timetable for return.
Danuel House Jr. (SF)	Prob Tues	Toe - 10 / 08 / 20	5-10	5-10	+ -
House Jr. is bothered by a left toe sprain, but he is expected to be active for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round versus the Thunder.
Bruno Caboclo (SF)	Out Sun	Ankle - 01 / 08 / 20	8-11	6-13	+ -
Caboclo has sat out the past three games due to a sprained right ankle, and he will not return Sunday against the Kings.
Eric Gordon (SG)	Prob Wed	Ankle - 28 / 07 / 20	8-11	6-13	+ -
Gordon has been sidelined with a left ankle sprain, but is expected to make his return Wednesday against the Pacers.
DeMarre Carroll (SF)	Prob Sun	Hamstring - 27 / 07 / 20	8-11	6-13	+ -
Carroll missed the last game with a hamstring injury, but it is expected that he will play against the Bucks on Sunday.
Austin Rivers (PG)	day to day	Personal - 24 / 07 / 20	-	-	+ -
Rivers was away from the team due to a personal matter. He has returned and is likely to line up in Friday's matchup versus the Mavericks.

Golden State

player (position)	status		ats*current	o/u*	notes
Marquese Chriss (PF)	day-to-day	Knee - 11 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Chriss hurt his right knee, but he will likely be active once the league commences play.
Juan Toscano-Anderson (SF)	Out indefinitely	Ankle - 10 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Toscano-Anderson sprained his left ankle, and there is no timetable for recovery.
Stephen Curry (PG)	day-to-day	Flu - 07 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Curry has recovered from flu-like symptoms, and he is expected to return to action upon the leagues announcement of when it will start back up.
Alen Smailagic (PF)	day-to-day	Quadricep - 04 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Smailagic is out with a right quadriceps contusion, and it is up in the air if he will return to the fold when the league announces that the hiatus is over.
Kevon Looney (PF)	out for season	Abdominal - 01 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Looney is anticipated to be sidelined for the remainder of the season after having core muscle surgery.
Alen Smailagic (PF)	Out indefinitely	Quadricep - 01 / 03 / 20	-	-	+ -
Smailagic will miss an undetermined length of time with a right quadriceps contusion.
Draymond Green (PF)	Out indefinitely	Knee - 29 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Green has been out with left knee soreness, and a timeline for his return has yet to be established.
Ky Bowman (PG)	Prob Tues	Ankle - 28 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Bowman suffered a lateral right ankle sprain, but he is likely to return to the court Tuesday versus the Clippers.
Jordan Poole (SG)	Prob Sun	Ankle - 28 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Poole sat out the last game with a right ankle sprain, but he is projected to play against the Wizards on Sunday.
Andrew Wiggins (SF)	Prob Sat	Back - 27 / 02 / 20	-	-	+ -
Wiggins was held out of the previous game with a thoracic spasm, but he is expected to bounce back in time for Saturday's matchup against the Suns.