Houston (34-20) at Golden State (12-43)
When: Thursday, February 20th, 2020
Where: Chase Center,
San Francisco, CA
Time: 10:35 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: Houston -10.5/232.5
It was only a couple of seasons ago that the Golden State Warriors were facing the Cleveland Cavaliers seemingly every June for the NBA title. Well, those two have the worst records in the league this season, but Golden State’s future doesn’t look too bleak. The Warriors will start the second half of the season by entertaining the new-look Houston Rockets on Thursday night – live on TNT right after the Nets vs. Sixers. The Warriors have a new-look roster as well after shipping D’Angelo Russell to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Andre Wiggins. The former No. 1 draft pick, who has underachieved, could find new life in the Bay Area behind Steph Curry and Klay Thompson next season. If he develops in that role, the Warriors will again be a championship contender. Wiggins has averaged 23 points in three games with Golden State, but among players who have played for Golden State the whole season (and are still on the roster), Alec Burks leads the Warriors with 16.1 points per game. Houston is adjusting to their new ‘small-ball’ approach with no center and no player over 6’7″ at most times. The Rockets come out of the All-Star Break in fifth place in the West – two games behind fourth-place Utah and 3.5 back of second-place Denver. Houston dropped two in a row before knocking off Boston 116-105 last Thursday and are 5-2 since going to a lineup that spreads the floor. The teams have split two meetings this season with the home team winning both including a 116-104 Golden State win on Christmas Day.
Superstar James Harden is averaging 32.7 points per game over his last six contests, scoring at least 40 points three times while topping 28 or more five times. The Rockets acquired Robert Covington before the break and traded away center Clint Capela. They’ve also now picked up Jeff Green and DeMarre Carroll and hope that this current roster can take them over the top. The backcourt duo of Russell Westbrook and Harden became the first pair of teammates in franchise history to score 35 or more points in the same regulation game when they combined for 78 in the victory over Boston. Westbrook is averaging 34.6 points on 53.9 percent shooting over his last 11 games. Houston will be at Utah on Saturday night.
The Warriors made small lineups a staple of their run to five straight NBA Finals but no longer have the personnel to make that lineup work with Curry (hand) and Thompson (knee) injured and Kevin Durant and Andre Iguodala elsewhere. Wiggins, who lost his final 13 games with Minnesota, is working well with power forward Marquese Chriss, who is averaging 20.3 points on 66.7 percent shooting and 10 rebounds over the last three games. Golden State lost their final four games prior to the break including a 112-106 decision at Phoenix last Wednesday. The Warriors will play three more games at home with Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans up next on Sunday.
I like Houston here coming out of the break well-rested against the worst team in the NBA. I’m not a fan of laying this many points on the road, but this seems like a no-brainer.
Check out who Bobby Babowski has on his Free NBA Picks page for Thursday. He is 59-51-3 on the season!
Pick: Rockets -10
Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Rockets are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Rockets are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 road games.
Rockets are 5-16 ATS in their last 21 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Rockets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
Rockets are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games as a road favorite.
Warriors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Warriors are 6-20 ATS in their last 26 Thursday games.
Warriors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
Under is 4-0 in Rockets last 4 overall.
Under is 4-0 in Rockets last 4 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-0 in Rockets last 4 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-0 in Rockets last 4 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-0 in Rockets last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % below .400.
Under is 5-1 in Rockets last 6 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Under is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 games following a straight up win.
Under is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 games as a favorite.
Under is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 games as a road favorite.
Under is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 vs. a team with a losing straight up record.
Under is 16-5 in Rockets last 21 Thursday games.
Under is 10-4 in Rockets last 14 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Under is 11-5 in Rockets last 16 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of less than .400.
Under is 15-7 in Rockets last 22 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.
Over is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Over is 6-1 in Warriors last 7 games playing on 3 or more days rest.
Under is 13-4 in Warriors last 17 games following a ATS win.
Over is 6-2 in Warriors last 8 Thursday games.
Over is 5-2 in Warriors last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 11-5-1 in Warriors last 17 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 26-12 in Warriors last 38 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 11-5-1 in the last 17 meetings.
Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Golden State.
