Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors, 4/28/19 NBA Predictions & Odds
Rockets vs. Warriors Prediction
In perhaps the most anticipated series the NBA Playoffs can produce this year, the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets get their conference semifinal series started today at 3:30PM ET.
555 Houston Rockets at 556 Golden State Warriors
3:30PM ET – ORACLE Arena
TV: ABC
According to oddsmakers, the Warriors are favored at home, as they are getting odds of -5.5 points against the Rockets. The over/under total for the contest is listed at 224.5 points. The public betting for the contest has 70 percent going on the Rockets on the road. This information is subject to change, however, so be sure to check out our NBA Public Betting Page for updated figures on the game.
Rockets best Utah
The Houston Rockets are the fourth seed in the West and they are coming off a 5-game series win over the Utah Jazz. Houston failed to cover the spread in the last two games of the series. The Rockets are 57-30 on the season, 23-20 on the road, 43-41-3 against the spread and 45-40-2 with the under.
Houston is putting up 113.9 points per game this season while shooting just 44.9 percent as a team. Defensively, the Rockets are giving up 109.1 points per game while opponents shoot 46.6 percent against them. However, they rank second in the NBA in defensive 3-point percentage, as opponents shoot just 34 percent. James Harden is leading the team in the playoffs, averaging 27.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 8.0 assists per game while Chris Paul is adding 17.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists per contest.
Warriors struggle with Clippers
Golden State is the top seed in the West and the two-time defending NBA champions, but they needed six games to beat the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round. Golden State was 3-3 against the spread in the series. Golden State is now 61-27 on the season, 31-13 at home, 38-49-1 against the spread and 46-42 with the under.
The Warriors are still one of the top offenses in the nation, averaging 117.7 points per game. They lead the league in shooting at 49.1 percent and are third in 3-point shooting at 38.5 percent. Defensively, Golden State is giving up 111.2 points per game while holding opponents to 44.4 percent shooting. The team has some injury issues today, as both Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are questionable with ankle injuries. Curry is averaging 24.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.2 assists in the playoffs while Thompson is putting up 17.3 points per game. Kevin Durant has been the clear leader in the playoffs, averaging 35 points, 5.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists per contest.
The Rockets are 9-3-1 against the spread in their last 13 games against Western Conference opponents, but just 1-6 ATS in their last seven games on 3 days or more of rest.
The Warriors are 2-9 against the spread in their last 11 Sunday games and 0-5 ATS in their last five following a win.
The Warriors have only themselves to blame for the situation they find themselves in. Winning Game 5 at home was all they needed to do to get some more rest and Curry and Thompson may not be questionable today. Houston comes in rested and have been motivating themselves for today's opener. I expect Durant to remain the focus of Golden State today, but he's going to need his teammates in this series. The Rockets are a much stronger team than the Clippers. Keep an eye on the injury report before placing your bet, but I think Houston is going to come out aggressive and physical and try to take this opener before Golden State can heal up.
NBA Prediction: Houston Rockets +5.5