It’s perhaps the most anticipated conference finals in years as Houston and Golden State square off in Game 1 of the West Finals on Monday night. The winner of this series – the Warriors are favored in the NBA odds even though they don’t have home-court advantage – would be heavily favored over either Boston or Cleveland in the NBA Finals.
The Rockets also won their first two series in five games vs. Minnesota and Utah.
Going by efficiency, this is the best offensive matchup in modern NBA history. Since team turnovers became official in 1973-74, there has never been a playoff series between squads that both averaged at least 112 points per 100 possessions. The Warriors led the NBA at 112.24 and Houston was second at 112.23. If the Rockets had made just one of the 3,732 shots they missed, they would have finished ahead of Golden State.
Young center Clint Capela has clearly emerged as a legitimate third star for the Rockets, having outplayed counterparts Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert while serving as a perfect complement for the superstar playmaking duo of James Harden and Chris Paul.
Harden, the likely 2018 MVP, is 3-10 in the regular season and 2-8 in the playoffs against the Warriors since 2014-15. While Harden has posted strong individual numbers (27.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 7 APG) against Golden State in the playoffs, he’s often struggled with turnovers (4.9 per game) and late-game decision-making.
How to Bet Warriors at Rockets NBA Odds & Game 1 Info
When: Monday, 9 PM ET Where: Toyota Center, Houston TV: TNT Stream: NBA League Pass Radio: 95.7 FM (Golden State) / 740 AM (Houston) NBA Odds: Rockets -1.5 (224)Season Series
Houston won it 2-1. The teams met on the opening night of the season, when the Warriors raised their latest title banner and the players got their rings, and the Rockets prevailed in a 122-121 upset. Kevin Durant appeared to have hit the winning shot at the baseline at the buzzer, but it left his hand just after time expired. James Harden had 27 points and Chris Paul just four in his Houston debut. Steph Curry had 22 points but missed a late shot too. Durant had 20. On Jan. 4, the Rockets lost 124-114 at home. Harden missed that game as did Durant. Curry scored 29 points and Klay Thompson had 28 and the Warriors pulled away late in the fourth quarter. Draymond Green added a triple-double with 17 points, 14 rebounds and 10 assists to become the franchise career leader in triple-doubles. The Rockets got 30 points from Eric Gordon, and Gerald Green came off the bench to score 29 and tie a career high with eight 3-pointers. Finally, on Jan. 20 in Houston, the Rockets won 116-108. Paul had 33 points and 11 rebounds to snap the Warriors’ 14-game road winning streak. Harden had 22 points. Durant led Golden State with 26 points, Green had 21 and Curry added 19 on a night he went 5 of 15 on 3-point attempts and 6 of 20 overall. It was just the sixth time in his career that he’d attempted 20 or more shots while making six or fewer. Golden State had won seven straight games in Houston.Why Bet on Golden State’s NBA Odds?
The Warriors beat San Antonio in five games in the first round and then New Orleans in five in the conference semifinals. They haven’t lost a playoff series since 2014, the first round vs. the Clippers. The Warriors have a talented corps of James Harden-stoppers, including a perennial Defensive Player of the Year candidate in Draymond Green protecting the basket and multiple quality perimeter defenders, including Klay Thompson and Andre Iguodala. Coach Steve Kerr said Nick Young played “really well” against the Rockets this year and he is “a good matchup for them.” I think every series is different, and you have to look at your opponent and figure out what you need to do to match up and to win some battles,” Kerr said. So apparently Young will get plenty of time off the bench. Green said the Warriors are solely focused on winning another championship, and “it don’t matter who’s in the way of that.” “They have made it known that their team is built to beat us,” Green said of the Rockets. “Kind of their, like you said, ‘obsession’ or whatever you want to call it — it is what it is. Like I’ve said before, all that stuff is cool. Obviously, you want to build your team to beat the defending champs because that’s usually how you have to go to win a championship. So, all understandable. That stuff has been said for about a year now. It’s time to play.”Who Well Has Green Done So Far?
Green averaged a triple-double in the Western Conference semifinals with 14.8 points, 11.8 rebounds and 10.0 assists, becoming the first Warriors player in franchise history to ever average a triple-double in a postseason series. He now has a franchise-record 26 triple-doubles in playoffs and regular season combined (22 regular season, 4 playoffs). The Warriors are 26-0 this year when Green has a triple-double. Kevin Durant has scored 20 or more points in 10 straight playoff games in this year’s playoffs, and has a 17-playoff game 20-point streak dating back to Game 3 of last year’s Western Conference Finals series vs. San Antonio (scored 20 or more in last seven playoff games in 2017). In Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs the Warriors have a 34-31 record (13-1 since 2015). Golden State has an overall playoff record of 58-100 (.367) on the road, including a 20-12 (.625) mark since 2015. The Warriors have won a road game in each of their last 17 playoff series, a franchise record (the NBA record is currently held by Miami, 19 straight)Why Bet on Houston’s NBA Odds?
The Rockets also won their first two series in five games vs. Minnesota and Utah.
Going by efficiency, this is the best offensive matchup in modern NBA history. Since team turnovers became official in 1973-74, there has never been a playoff series between squads that both averaged at least 112 points per 100 possessions. The Warriors led the NBA at 112.24 and Houston was second at 112.23. If the Rockets had made just one of the 3,732 shots they missed, they would have finished ahead of Golden State.
Young center Clint Capela has clearly emerged as a legitimate third star for the Rockets, having outplayed counterparts Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert while serving as a perfect complement for the superstar playmaking duo of James Harden and Chris Paul.
Harden, the likely 2018 MVP, is 3-10 in the regular season and 2-8 in the playoffs against the Warriors since 2014-15. While Harden has posted strong individual numbers (27.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG, 7 APG) against Golden State in the playoffs, he’s often struggled with turnovers (4.9 per game) and late-game decision-making.
How Has Houston Done Agains the Warriors in Previous Playoffs?
The Rockets lost to the Warriors in the 2015 and 2016 playoffs, but this team is much better than either of those were. Houston is the first seed in the Western Conference and holds home court advantage throughout the playoffs by nature of recording the league’s best record during the regular season. Since the 16-team playoff format was adopted in 1983-84, this is the first time the Rockets have been the #1 seed. The #1 seed in either conference has gone onto win the championship 24 times since the 16-team format was installed in 1983-84, including each of the past five seasons. Houston is 5-1 at Toyota Center this postseason and is 18-6 over its past 24 home playoff games. The Rockets were 34-7 at home this season, including 20 straight wins from 1/10-4/5. That tied for the longest single season home winning streak in franchise historyLatest NBA Odds Trends
- Golden State is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games
- Golden State is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Golden State’s last 7 games
- Houston is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games
- Houston is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
- The total has gone UNDER in 12 of Houston’s last 18 games
