Despite a convincing victory in Game 1, the Golden State Warriors opened up as underdogs again for Wednesday's Game 2 contest in Houston.
Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey said all season his team was built to beat the Golden State Warriors, but it didn’t live up to the billing in Game 1. The Warriors are slight underdogs again in Game 2 but huge favorites to win the Western Conference finals as the series continues on Wednesday.
NBA Point Spread and Betting Analysis
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
| time | fav | line | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opening 15 May 9:00am | GS | -2 -110 | O +225 -110 |
| Closing 16 May 12:10pm | GS | -1 -110 | O +225 -110 |
Oddsmakers installed the Dubs as underdogs in a playoff game for the first time since Kevin Durant came to the Bay Area and they won outright by double digits against the top-seeded Rockets. Houston’s home-court advantage is toast but it can still carry a series split to Oakland with a win on Wednesday night. The Rockets won 34 of their 41 home games during the regular season but went just 17-23-1 ATS.
The Warriors are 32-14 SU and 21-25 ATS in away games (regular season and playoffs combined) this year. The under is 4-0 in their last four games and 6-4-1 in their 11 postseason games this spring. The under is also 15-6 in the Rockets’ last 21 home games and 36-17 in their last 53 overall.
About 64 percent of Sports Interaction bettors are backing the Golden State Warriors in this NBA matchup while 65 percent like the game to go over the 225-point total. SIA lists the Warriors as -528 chalk to win the series while the Rockets are paying +337 to dethrone the defending champions.
Golden State Warriors
In a game filled with stat-stuffing box scores, Kevin Durant was the star of the night. The 2017 Finals MVP scored 37 points – which isn’t always a good sign for Golden State. The Warriors are just 8-13 in games this year when KD scores 30 or more points.
Durant wasn’t the only Warrior player roasting Houston. Klay Thompson tallied 28 points and was left open on 14 of his 18 shot attempts. Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said after the game his club can’t allow Thompson to have another game where he gets that many good looks.
Houston Rockets
James Harden and Chris Paul showed up but the supporting cast didn’t. PJ Tucker played nearly 35 minutes and registered just one point; Luc Mbah a Moute missed all six of his shot attempts including four bunnies at the rim; and Trevor Ariza picked up his fifth foul early in the third quarter and only played 23 minutes. Houston can’t beat Golden State without more help from its role players.
Injuries
Shaun Livingston (PG)
JaVale McGee (C)
David West (PF)
Andre Iguodala (SF)
Damian Jones (C)
Nick Young (SG)
Kevon Looney (SF)
Patrick McCaw (SG)
Quinn Cook (PG)
Chris Boucher (SF)
PJ Tucker (SF)
Trevor Ariza (SF)
Clint Capela (C)
Eric Gordon (SG)
Luc Mbah a Moute (PF)
Nene (C)
Chris Paul (PG)
Tarik Black (PF)
Ryan Anderson (PF)
Gerald Green (SG)
Injuries
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaun Livingston (PG) | Prob Sun | Ankle - 20 / 04 / 18 | 10-9 | 7-12 | + - |
|
Livingston is dealing with a left ankle injury but is likely to play against the Spurs in Game 4 of the Western Conference first round. |
|||||
| JaVale McGee (C) | Prob Thurs | Quadricep - 18 / 04 / 18 | 10-9 | 7-12 | + - |
|
McGee is nursing a left quadriceps contusion but is likely to play against the Spurs in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round. |
|||||
| David West (PF) | Prob Thurs | Ankle - 17 / 04 / 18 | 11-9 | 7-12-1 | + - |
|
West sustained an ankle injury but is likely to be available for Game 3 of the Western Conference first round against the Spurs. |
|||||
| Andre Iguodala (SF) | Prob Mon | Thigh - 15 / 04 / 18 | 11-9 | 7-12-1 | + - |
|
Iguodala is expected to suit up against the Spurs in Game 2 of the Western Conference first round despite a left thigh contusion. |
|||||
| Damian Jones (C) | Prob Tues | Foot - 09 / 04 / 18 | 12-11 | 8-14-1 | + - |
|
Jones is expected to suit up Tuesday against the Jazz despite a left mid-foot sprain. |
|||||
| Nick Young (SG) | Prob Sat | Illness - 07 / 04 / 18 | 12-12 | 9-14-1 | + - |
|
Young is battling an illness but is expected to be available for Saturday's game against the Pelicans. |
|||||
| Kevon Looney (SF) | Prob Thurs | Flu - 02 / 04 / 18 | 14-13 | 10-16-1 | + - |
|
Looney was absent from the lineup during the last game due to flu-like symptoms but is likely to be available against the Pacers on Thursday. |
|||||
| Patrick McCaw (SG) | Early June | Back - 01 / 04 / 18 | 14-14 | 11-16-1 | + - |
|
McCaw is sidelined with a lumbosacral bone bruise and is expected to be re-evaluated in four weeks. |
|||||
| Quinn Cook (PG) | Prob Tues | Knee - 27 / 03 / 18 | 14-16 | 12-17-1 | + - |
|
Cook is dealing with a left knee contusion but is expected to play in Tuesday's contest against the Pacers. |
|||||
| Chris Boucher (SF) | Out indefinitely | Ankle - 25 / 03 / 18 | 15-16 | 12-18-1 | + - |
|
Boucher has been held out of action due to a sprained left ankle and it is unknown how much time he will be forced to miss. |
|||||
| player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PJ Tucker (SF) | Prob Wed | Knee - 24 / 04 / 18 | 8-5 | 5-8 | + - |
|
Tucker is expected to suit up against the Timberwolves for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round despite a left knee injury. |
|||||
| Trevor Ariza (SF) | Out Wed | Rest - 11 / 04 / 18 | 9-10 | 6-13 | + - |
|
Ariza will not be available against the Kings on Wednesday as he will be given the night off to rest. |
|||||
| Clint Capela (C) | Prob Sun | Hand - 11 / 04 / 18 | 9-10 | 6-13 | + - |
|
Capela is battling a hand injury but is likely to be available for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round against the Timberwolves. |
|||||
| Eric Gordon (SG) | Prob Sun | Ankle - 11 / 04 / 18 | 9-10 | 6-13 | + - |
|
Gordon has soreness in his left ankle but is expected to suit up against the Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round. |
|||||
| Luc Mbah a Moute (PF) | Prob Sun | Shoulder - 11 / 04 / 18 | 9-10 | 6-13 | + - |
|
Mbah a Moute is recovering from a dislocated right shoulder but is expected to return for Game 1 of the Western Conference second round against the Jazz. |
|||||
| Nene (C) | Out Wed | Rest - 11 / 04 / 18 | 9-10 | 6-13 | + - |
|
Nene will receive a day of rest and will not partake in Wednesday's game against the Kings. |
|||||
| Chris Paul (PG) | Out Wed | Rest - 11 / 04 / 18 | 9-10 | 6-13 | + - |
|
Paul will not participate in Wednesday's game against the Kings due to a day of rest. |
|||||
| Tarik Black (PF) | Ques Tues | Back - 06 / 04 / 18 | 9-11 | 6-14 | + - |
|
Black sat out the last game with a stiff lower back and it is unclear if he will play against the Lakers on Tuesday. |
|||||
| Ryan Anderson (PF) | Prob Sat | Ankle - 03 / 04 / 18 | 10-12 | 7-15 | + - |
|
Anderson is recovering from a left ankle sprain but is expected to play in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round against the Timberwolves. |
|||||
| Gerald Green (SG) | day-to-day | Leg - 01 / 04 / 18 | 10-13 | 7-16 | + - |
|
Green exited the previous game due to a left leg injury and it is unknown if he will return. |
|||||
Warriors vs. Rockets Prediction
-
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 15 May 9:00am GS -2 -110 O +225 -110 Closing 16 May 12:10pm GS -1 -110 O +225 -110 -
Injuries
Shaun Livingston (PG)
Prob Sun Ankle - 20 / 04 / 18JaVale McGee (C)
Prob Thurs Quadricep - 18 / 04 / 18David West (PF)
Prob Thurs Ankle - 17 / 04 / 18Andre Iguodala (SF)
Prob Mon Thigh - 15 / 04 / 18Damian Jones (C)
Prob Tues Foot - 09 / 04 / 18Nick Young (SG)
Prob Sat Illness - 07 / 04 / 18Kevon Looney (SF)
Prob Thurs Flu - 02 / 04 / 18Patrick McCaw (SG)
Early June Back - 01 / 04 / 18Quinn Cook (PG)
Prob Tues Knee - 27 / 03 / 18Chris Boucher (SF)
Out indefinitely Ankle - 25 / 03 / 18PJ Tucker (SF)
Prob Wed Knee - 24 / 04 / 18Trevor Ariza (SF)
Out Wed Rest - 11 / 04 / 18Clint Capela (C)
Prob Sun Hand - 11 / 04 / 18Eric Gordon (SG)
Prob Sun Ankle - 11 / 04 / 18Luc Mbah a Moute (PF)
Prob Sun Shoulder - 11 / 04 / 18Nene (C)
Out Wed Rest - 11 / 04 / 18Chris Paul (PG)
Out Wed Rest - 11 / 04 / 18Tarik Black (PF)
Ques Tues Back - 06 / 04 / 18Ryan Anderson (PF)
Prob Sat Ankle - 03 / 04 / 18Gerald Green (SG)
day-to-day Leg - 01 / 04 / 18Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Shaun Livingston (PG) Prob Sun Ankle - 20 / 04 / 18 10-9 7-12 + - Livingston is dealing with a left ankle injury but is likely to play against the Spurs in Game 4 of the Western Conference first round.
JaVale McGee (C) Prob Thurs Quadricep - 18 / 04 / 18 10-9 7-12 + - McGee is nursing a left quadriceps contusion but is likely to play against the Spurs in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round.
David West (PF) Prob Thurs Ankle - 17 / 04 / 18 11-9 7-12-1 + - West sustained an ankle injury but is likely to be available for Game 3 of the Western Conference first round against the Spurs.
Andre Iguodala (SF) Prob Mon Thigh - 15 / 04 / 18 11-9 7-12-1 + - Iguodala is expected to suit up against the Spurs in Game 2 of the Western Conference first round despite a left thigh contusion.
Damian Jones (C) Prob Tues Foot - 09 / 04 / 18 12-11 8-14-1 + - Jones is expected to suit up Tuesday against the Jazz despite a left mid-foot sprain.
Nick Young (SG) Prob Sat Illness - 07 / 04 / 18 12-12 9-14-1 + - Young is battling an illness but is expected to be available for Saturday's game against the Pelicans.
Kevon Looney (SF) Prob Thurs Flu - 02 / 04 / 18 14-13 10-16-1 + - Looney was absent from the lineup during the last game due to flu-like symptoms but is likely to be available against the Pacers on Thursday.
Patrick McCaw (SG) Early June Back - 01 / 04 / 18 14-14 11-16-1 + - McCaw is sidelined with a lumbosacral bone bruise and is expected to be re-evaluated in four weeks.
Quinn Cook (PG) Prob Tues Knee - 27 / 03 / 18 14-16 12-17-1 + - Cook is dealing with a left knee contusion but is expected to play in Tuesday's contest against the Pacers.
Chris Boucher (SF) Out indefinitely Ankle - 25 / 03 / 18 15-16 12-18-1 + - Boucher has been held out of action due to a sprained left ankle and it is unknown how much time he will be forced to miss.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes PJ Tucker (SF) Prob Wed Knee - 24 / 04 / 18 8-5 5-8 + - Tucker is expected to suit up against the Timberwolves for Game 5 of the Eastern Conference first round despite a left knee injury.
Trevor Ariza (SF) Out Wed Rest - 11 / 04 / 18 9-10 6-13 + - Ariza will not be available against the Kings on Wednesday as he will be given the night off to rest.
Clint Capela (C) Prob Sun Hand - 11 / 04 / 18 9-10 6-13 + - Capela is battling a hand injury but is likely to be available for Game 1 of the Western Conference first round against the Timberwolves.
Eric Gordon (SG) Prob Sun Ankle - 11 / 04 / 18 9-10 6-13 + - Gordon has soreness in his left ankle but is expected to suit up against the Timberwolves in Game 1 of the Western Conference first round.
Luc Mbah a Moute (PF) Prob Sun Shoulder - 11 / 04 / 18 9-10 6-13 + - Mbah a Moute is recovering from a dislocated right shoulder but is expected to return for Game 1 of the Western Conference second round against the Jazz.
Nene (C) Out Wed Rest - 11 / 04 / 18 9-10 6-13 + - Nene will receive a day of rest and will not partake in Wednesday's game against the Kings.
Chris Paul (PG) Out Wed Rest - 11 / 04 / 18 9-10 6-13 + - Paul will not participate in Wednesday's game against the Kings due to a day of rest.
Tarik Black (PF) Ques Tues Back - 06 / 04 / 18 9-11 6-14 + - Black sat out the last game with a stiff lower back and it is unclear if he will play against the Lakers on Tuesday.
Ryan Anderson (PF) Prob Sat Ankle - 03 / 04 / 18 10-12 7-15 + - Anderson is recovering from a left ankle sprain but is expected to play in Game 3 of the Western Conference first round against the Timberwolves.
Gerald Green (SG) day-to-day Leg - 01 / 04 / 18 10-13 7-16 + - Green exited the previous game due to a left leg injury and it is unknown if he will return.