Warriors vs. Rockets Odds, Prediction: Game 3 NBA Playoffs
The Warriors-Rockets Western Conference semifinal series shifts to Houston on Saturday night with the home team trying to avoid a 3-0 hole.
NBA Playoffs Point Spread and Betting Analysis
When you are the marquee matchup in the conference semifinal round of the NBA playoffs, as Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets is, then your schedule is going to be scattershot because the TV networks dictate everything and they want the marquee matchup when they want it. That’s the best explanation we have for the fact that the Warriors & Rockets don’t resume their series for Game 3 until Saturday night (on network national TV in the USA) despite last playing Tuesday. After this, though, the series is scheduled for every other day.
The Rockets and Warriors split two games in Houston this season. James Harden & Co. won the first easily way back on Nov. 15, 107-86. Harden had 27 points, while the Warriors were without Steph Curry. On March 13, Golden State won 106-104 to avoid the four-game season sweep. DeMarcus Cousins had arguably his best game as a Warrior but has since been lost (most likely) for the rest of the playoffs due to injury. Kevin Durant missed that game.
All-time, the teams have split eight playoff games in Houston. Last year, they split four. Golden State won Game 7 of the West Finals there, 101-92. The Rockets impossibly missed 27 straight three-pointers in one long stretch. The Dubs trailed by as many as 15 in the first half.
Golden State is the clear Sports Interaction favourite to win this series at -714, the West at -400 and a third straight NBA title at -200.
Golden State Warriors
The Warriors haven’t played all that well in this series yet bring a 2-0 lead to Houston. In Golden State’s 115-109 Game 2 win, the Warriors were outshot (46.8-42.6 per cent) and made just 11 three-pointers (six fewer than Houston) but led wire-to-wire. Durant continued his huge postseason with 29 points and is simply unstoppable right now. Steph Curry missed a bit of time in Game 2 after dislocating his left middle finger but had it popped back in and taped. It seemed to bother Curry a bit just as the guide hand on his shot as he was only 3-for-13 from deep. The three days off between Game 2 & 3 can only help. Draymond Green might have been the best Warrior on Tuesday with 15 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. When he’s playing like that, this team is essentially unbeatable.
Houston Rockets
The Rockets were very sluggish out of the gate in Game 2, turning the ball over frequently. Perhaps they were too worried about the refereeing after whining incessantly over a lack of fouls called on three-point attempts in Game 1. Thankfully, that wasn’t a factor in Game 2. Harden left for a significant stretch in the first half after he was inadvertently raked across both eyes in the chase for a loose ball. Afterward, Harden said he could barely see and both eyes did look quite bloodshot. He finished with 29 points. The Rockets simply turned the ball over too much overall and allowed too many offensive rebounds.
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