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Charlie Grant
Rockets vs. Warriors: Game 3 Prediction, NBA Playoff Odds
The Rockets sent a message in their Game 2 blowout victory and it’s clear the Golden State Warriors won’t be able to sleepwalk their way to a fourth straight appearance in the NBA Finals. The defending champions will need more from Stephen Curry to cover as large favourites in Game 3.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
The Rockets improved to 74-20 straight up and 48-45-1 against the spread this season with Wednesday’s 127-105 win. The club is 9-3 SU and 7-5 ATS in the playoffs, and 3-2 (SU and ATS) against Golden State since Chris Paul came to Houston.
James Harden and Co. won a league-best 65 games during the regular season and Sunday’s matchup will be just the sixth time they enter a game as underdogs. They’re 1-4 ATS in the previous five spots with the dog tag.
The 127 points Houston scored in Game 2 represent its highest scoring game this postseason and the most points the team has tallied in a game since the middle of March. The Under is still 21-10 in the Rockets’ last 31 games overall.
Golden State is unbeaten in its last 16 games on its home floor but just 3-8 ATS in its last 11 at the Oracle Arena. The Warriors are 18-26-1 against the number as home favourites this season.
About 60 percent of Sports Interaction bettors are backing the Rockets to cover as 7-point underdogs while 63 percent expect the game to go under the 226.5-point total.
Golden State is still a -333 fave to win the series on the Sports Interaction NBA futures board, while the Rockets are +225 to knockout the three-time defending Western Conference champion.
Houston Rockets
Head coach Mike D’Antoni repeatedly said his team didn’t do anything differently in Game 2 than Game 1 but viewers know that’s not true. The Rockets’ primary offense began with isolation sets, but they swung the ball around the horn and found open shooters. Role players PJ Tucker, Trevor Ariza and Eric Gordon combined for 68 points and shot 11-for-18 shooting from 3.
Chris Paul sat out much of the fourth quarter on Wednesday because of an apparent ankle injury but he practiced without any limitation of Friday and seems to be 100 percent for Game 3.
Golden State Warriors
Golden State needs more from Stephen Curry in this series. The All-Star point is shooting just 15 percent from distance (2-for-13) and he’s being singled out at the defensive end. Houston begins almost every offensive set by getting Curry switched onto James Harden.
Curry is working hard at the defensive end but he’s not a two-time NBA MVP because of his defensive footwork. Many Golden State beat writers are wondering if he’s completely recovered from the knee injury that kept him out for the final month of the regular season and first round of the playoffs.
