Golden State (45-21) at Houston (42-25)
When: Wednesday, March 13th, 2019
Where: Toyota Center,
Houston, Texas
Time: 9:35 ET | TV: ESPN
Opening Odds: Houston -3/230.5
The Golden State Warriors have had trouble with the Houston Rockets this season, and lately, have been having issues with the rest of the league as well. The Warriors still own the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference and will try to snap out of their funk when they visit Houston on Wednesday night. Golden State has dropped six of their last 10 games including an ugly 115-111 home loss to the lowly Phoenix Suns on Sunday. The Warriors had beaten Phoenix 18-straight times before the setback and lead the Denver Nuggets by 1.5 games in the West. Houston, meanwhile, is one of the hottest teams in the league and have climbed to within 3.5 games of Golden State after a 118-106 win over the Charlotte Hornets Monday. The Warriors edged Houston in seven games in last year’s Western Conference Finals, but the Rockets have won all three meetings so far this season, including a 118-112 win in Oakland without star guard James Harden just three weeks ago. That win ignited their current nine-game winning streak in which they are 5-3-1 ATS in that span. This game, which airs live on ESPN, is OFF the board at most sportsbook due to the injury status of Golden State’s Kevin Durant, who is not expected to play.
All-Star Durant, who is averaging 27.4 points on 51.3 percent shooting, went down with an ankle contusion on Monday and is day-to-day according to the team. With Durant likely to be limited or even out all together, the Warriors might finally re-debut center Andrew Bogut, who they signed last week but has yet to see any action. Shooting guard Klay Thompson led the team with 28 points against the Suns, two nights after pouring in 39 versus Denver including 9-of-11 from beyond the arc. This is the beginning of a pretty tough four-game road trip for Golden State, who will also see Oklahoma City, San Antonio, and Minnesota.
The Rockets got a nice boost off the bench from power forward Kenneth Faried after he missed the previous five games with a hip injury and recorded 16 points and nine rebounds in 20 minutes. Harden scored below 30 points in each of the last two games, but still led the team with 28 points on Monday while also pulling down 10 rebounds. Eric Gordon, who averages 16.6 points a contest, has upped that to 22.0 points a game over his last five and has made 26 three-point field goals in that stretch as well. The Rockets will get Phoenix at home Friday before wrapping up their four-game homestand with Minnesota.
The Warriors just aren’t playing very well right now and probably won’t have Durant tonight. The Rockets have won all three meetings this season – including one without Harden – and should be able to handle Golden State. Lay the points.
Pick: Rockets -3.5
Warriors are 9-23-1 ATS in their last 33 vs. Western Conference.
Warriors are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up loss.
Warriors are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 Wednesday games.
Warriors are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS loss.
Warriors are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. NBA Southwest.
Warriors are 3-13 ATS in their last 16 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
Warriors are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Warriors are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Warriors are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 road games.
Warriors are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Rockets are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
Rockets are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Rockets are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
Rockets are 2-8-1 ATS in their last 11 Wednesday games.
Rockets are 2-10 ATS in their last 12 games following a ATS win.
Under is 5-0 in Warriors last 5 overall.
Over is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 Wednesday games.
Under is 5-0 in Warriors last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 6-0 in Warriors last 6 games following a ATS loss.
Under is 5-0 in Warriors last 5 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Over is 5-1 in Warriors last 6 vs. NBA Southwest.
Under is 5-1 in Warriors last 6 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 20-7-1 in Warriors last 28 games following a straight up loss.
Under is 5-2 in Warriors last 7 vs. Western Conference.
Under is 4-0 in Rockets last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
Under is 4-0 in Rockets last 4 games following a ATS win.
Under is 4-0 in Rockets last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 5-1-1 in Rockets last 7 vs. Western Conference.
Under is 5-1 in Rockets last 6 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
Under is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
Over is 10-4 in Rockets last 14 Wednesday games.
Under is 5-2 in Rockets last 7 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
Under is 20-8 in Rockets last 28 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
Under is 20-9 in Rockets last 29 vs. NBA Pacific.
Under is 7-1 in the last 8 meetings.
Under is 19-7 in the last 26 meetings in Houston.
Warriors are 2-5 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
