Rockets at Warriors Lines, Score Prediction, Betting Odds & 2024 NBA Expert Analysis

The Golden State Warriors have lost a season-high five straight games as they welcome a very good Houston team.

Both teams could be missing a key player with the last name Green so the NBA odds are a bit in flux for this potential Western Conference playoff preview.

Why Bet on Houston?

The Rockets had a three-game winning streak snapped Tuesday in a 120-111 loss in Sacramento but Houston has moved on in the NBA Cup competition. Domantas Sabonis scored 27 points and Sacramento made 15 straight shots from the field to deny the Rockets the top seed in the NBA Cup quarterfinals. The shooting spree by the Kings turned an eight-point deficit late in the second quarter into a 12-point lead midway through the third to give the Kings their only win in four NBA Cup games.

Game Review

Sacramento found its shooting touch after hitting less than 40% of its 3-point tries in six straight games. The Kings came into the day ranking sixth worst in the NBA by making 33.2% from 3 but went 14 for 30 against Houston. The Rockets had won 10 of 12 and got frustrated as coach Ime Udoka and star center Alperen Sengun both were ejected late in the fourth quarter. Sengun had 24 points, eight rebounds and six assists in 31 minutes. He has scored at least 20 points in five straight games, two shy of his career high.

Ime Udoka

“Missed calls, blatant missed calls right in front of you,” Udoka said when asked why he was upset. “You’re calling ticky-tack moving screens and little s–t like that and then you don’t want to call the obvious ones right in front of you. That was it. Alpi got fouled a few times on that drive, on the layup and they don’t want to call it. Get some f—ing glasses or open your eyes.”

Jalen Green

Star guard Green was to be evaluated by an eye doctor Wednesday after taking a hit to his right eye during Tuesday’s loss. He finished with 28 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Green was able to play through the issue, though he said he experienced impaired vision after taking a hit to the eye.

It was Green’s 10th 20-plus-point outing this year, but his status could be in jeopardy for Thursday’s game. If Green is sidelined, Amen Thompson and Reed Sheppard are candidates for an increased role. Over the past three games, Green is averaging 26.0 ppg on 57.5% shooting after averaging 12.5 ppg on 32.1% shooting the four games prior.

"common foul." Officials don't even bother to review it. Jalen Green was cut and bleeding. Blurry vision after the game. Get your house in order, @NBAOfficial #Rockets #NBA https://t.co/434ZgbXkLE pic.twitter.com/3FSk9HHUia

— Chris A. White 🐻 (@fyrebear) December 4, 2024

Tari Eason

Forward Eason had his second double-double of the year with 16 points and 12 rebounds. However, it was reported after Tuesday’s game that Eason had to be restrained from going after a heckling fan. That shouldn’t result in a suspension but is worth monitoring.

The Streak

The Rockets are 15-3 when leading by 10+ points this season and have 8 wins by 10+ points, including 5 by 20+. Houston is 14-1 when leading at the start of the fourth quarter this season and 1-6 when trailing. The Rockets are 2-5 when trailing by double digits this season and lost by 10+ points once. The Rockets are 3-3 in games decided by 5 or fewer points, including 2-2 by 3 or fewer.

Why Bet on Golden State?

Golden State lost its fifth in a row Tuesday, 119-115 in Denver. Trailing 90-85 entering the fourth quarter, the Warriors rattled off a 19-4 run to take a 104-94 lead. But Denver came back and went ahead on a pair of free throws by Aaron Gordon with 48 seconds remaining. Golden State was without defensive anchor Draymond Green, who was sidelined with left calf tightness. He was to have an MRI on Wednesday so there’s probably a decent chance Green sits at least Thursday as well.

"Draymond is doing well. He had an MRI today. We don't have the results yet. We'll have more tomorrow. My gut is that this is not going to be a super long-term issue."

– Steve Kerr's update on Draymond Green's calf injury (via @WillardAndDibs).

🎧 https://t.co/YDbS1PoSDN pic.twitter.com/CvCiSJjXQd

— 95.7 The Game (@957thegame) December 5, 2024

Jamal Murray

Murray’s steal with 20 seconds remaining prevented the Warriors from attempting a game-tying or go-ahead shot and led to Nikola Jokic’s two free throws on the other end to clinch the game.

Steve Kerr

A furious Kerr screamed at officials following the loss, saying the crew failed to see that Nuggets guard Christian Braun signaled for a timeout after securing a loose ball with 1.9 seconds left — despite Denver being out of timeouts. Kerr argued that Denver should have been assessed a technical foul, which would have given the Warriors a free throw and possession of the ball. Instead, Tyler Ford called for a jump ball with 1.9 seconds remaining in the game and the Warriors trailing by four.

“Braun called a timeout,” Kerr said. “He dove on the floor, he rolled over. Everybody saw it except for the three guys we hire to do the games, and that makes me angry. That’s a technical foul. They don’t have a timeout left. We shoot a free throw, we get the ball, we got a chance to win the game. They [the officials] all told me they didn’t see it. … It’s up to the referees to see [it]. That’s why we have three of them. Somebody’s got to see it. So yeah, that made me mad.”

Stephen Curry

Curry recorded a double-double in the loss with 24 points and 11 assists to go with seven rebounds. Curry took on some extra playmaking responsibilities in this game with Green sidelined, and while it hurt his efficiency, he was able to set a new season-high for assists. Curry is also five steals shy of 1,500 career. He would become the 53rd player in NBA history to reach the milestone. Jonathan Kuminga had 19 points and four boards starting for Green.

Against Houston

As noted, the Warriors have won the last 14 meetings against the Rockets, including the last six at home. The winning streak is the second-longest active streak in the league, trailing only the Knicks’ 16-game winning streak against the Pistons. The last time the Rockets defeated the Warriors was on Feb. 20, 2020 (135-105) at Chase Center.

The Stats

The Warriors are tied for the fourth-highest defensive rating (108.0) and 11th-highest offensive rating (113.7) by NBA.com. The Warriors are ranked second in the NBA in rebounding (49.0 rpg), third in assists per game (30.2 apg), ninth in scoring (116.1 ppg). Golden State is ranked first in the NBA in opponent 3-point field goal percentage (33.1 3P%) and third in opponent field goal percentage (43.9 FG%). The Warriors are also tied for third in deflections per game (18.7).

Golden State’s bench is averaging a league-leading 50.7 points per game. The highest team bench scoring in a single season since 1970-71 when starters were first officially tracked is 53.2 points per game by the 2018-19 Los Angeles Clippers. The Warriors’ reserves have scored at least 40 points in 15 games this season (11-4 record in those games). The Warriors’ reserves have outscored their counterparts, 1,014-706 (+308, 50.7 ppg – 35.3 ppg).

Clutch Games

The Warriors have played in 12 clutch games this season, winning five of them. Clutch games are games in which the score is within five in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime.

How to Bet Rockets at Warriors Lines

When: Thursday, 10 PM ET
Where: Chase Center
TV: NBA TV
Stream: NBA.com, NBA TV app

Rockets vs Warriors Series History

This is the second of four meetings between the teams this season. On Nov. 2, Houston lost at home to Golden State 127-121 in OT. It was Golden State’s 14th straight-regular season win over the Rockets and the eighth in a row in Houston. The Warriors led by 31 points in the first half, but the Rockets tied it with an 18-2 run to open the fourth quarter. Golden State scored the first six points in overtime to make it 125-119 and played without Steph Curry. Buddy Hield led the way with 27 points. Tari Eason led the Rockets with a career-high 27 points. Houston’s 14-game losing streak in the series is its second-longest in history against one team behind 15 in a row against the Lakers.

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