Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets Preview & Picks
Houston are tipped to cover a small spread as they win this series opener.
The Rockets have the ability to dominate inside the paint, creating plenty of second chance opportunities, and they will be well rested after not playing for a week.
- Houston Rockets are 15-5 in their last 20 games
- Houston Rockets are 14-4 in their previous 18 home games
- Houston beat Golden State by 10 points on April 6
- The Under cashed in 4 of the 5 regular season meetings
Head To Head
- Houston Rockets lead the all-time series 135-126
- Houston Rockets won 106-96 when the two teams last met on April 6
Golden State Warriors Form
Golden State enter this playoff series having booked their postseason place by going 48-34 in the regular season and advancing from the Play-In Tournament.
The Warriors ended March with back-to-back road wins, downing New Orleans 111-95 and San Antonio 148-106, and began April with back-to-back road successes.
They won 134-125 in Memphis and 123-116 at the Los Angeles Lakers, before returning home to extend their streak to five games with a 118-104 victory over Denver.
Golden State then sandwiched a 133-95 blowout of Phoenix with a 106-96 loss to Houston and a 114-111 defeat to San Antonio, before winning 103-86 win in Portland.
The Warriors ended the regular season with a 124-119 overtime defeat to the LA Clippers, but issued an immediate response in the Play-In as they won 121-116 at home to Memphis.
Houston Rockets Form
Houston ensured their trip to the playoffs by compiling a 52-30 record that earned them second place in the Western Conference standings.
The Rockets ended the season on a three-game slide, but a run of 15 wins in the 17 games prior to that wrapped up the number two seeding for the Rockets.
That run began with a nine-game win streak, and when that was ended they immediately replied with three consecutive wins.
Houston then fell 104-98 at the Los Angeles Lakers, only to again respond to a loss with three wins in a row, this time beating Utah 143-105, Oklahoma City 125-111 and Golden State 106-96.
The Rockets cooled off after that though, losing 134-117 at the LA Clippers and 140-109 at the Los Angeles Lakers, before returning home for a 126-111 defeat to Denver.