Golden State (1-0) at Houston (0-1)
When: Wednesday, May 16th 2018
Where: Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Time: 9:05 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: Houston -1.5/226
The Golden State Warriors have been put in an unusual position in this year’s Western Conference Finals against the Houston Rockets. For the first time in four postseasons, Golden State had to open a series on the road – and were slight underdogs – but came through like the champions they are and handled Houston 119-106 in Game 1 Monday. Kevin Durant scored 37 points – his fourth 30-point game this postseason – in leading the Warriors to an easy victory after falling behind early. Klay Thompson was left open several times by the Houston defense and made them pay for it but scoring 28 points and hitting six 3-pointers for a Warriors team who are in the conference finals for a franchise-record fourth straight time. It’s Houston’s first trip since 2015 when Golden State won the series in five games. The Rockets struggled to slow down Durant and it didn’t help that Trevor Ariza picked up his fifth foul early in the third quarter with Golden State up by three. Both teams made 13 3-pointers in Game 1 but the Warriors had an 18-3 edge in fast-break points. The Warriors have now won five of their last six games played at Toyota Center.
Durant was 14-of-27 shooting in Game 1 and Houston will need to start double-teaming him or find someone who will guard him better. Point guard Stephen Curry was solid all-around with 18 points, eight assists and six rebounds as he continues to battle back from injury. Power forward Draymond Green scored just five points in Game 1 but also contributed nine rebounds and nine assists.
Rockets’ superstar James Harden reached 40 points for the third time this postseason, and broke out of a 3-point shooting funk by making 5-of-9 attempts after being just 6-of-32 over the final four games of the second-round series against the Utah Jazz. Point guard Chris Paul had 23 points and 11 rebounds in the opener but only had three assists as the Rockets continue to play one-on-one basketball. Center Clint Capela had a nice game offensively with 12 points on 6-of-7 shooting.
Like I said before Game 1, this Warriors team, when healthy, can’t be beat in a series. This is a must-win situation for Houston, which puts a lot more pressure on Harden. The offensive fire-power and depth of Golden State is just too much for the Rockets.
Pick: Warriors +1.5
- Warriors are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Conference Finals games.
- Warriors are 43-21-3 ATS in their last 67 Wednesday games.
- Warriors are 8-17 ATS in their last 25 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Warriors are 8-17 ATS in their last 25 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Warriors are 9-21 ATS in their last 30 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Warriors are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Warriors are 7-19-1 ATS in their last 27 games following a ATS win.
- Warriors are 4-11 ATS in their last 15 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Warriors are 5-15 ATS in their last 20 games following a straight up win.
- Warriors are 6-19-1 ATS in their last 26 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
- Warriors are 4-14 ATS in their last 18 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Rockets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- 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 playing on 1 days rest.
- Rockets are 11-4-1 ATS in their last 16 Wednesday games.
- Rockets are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Rockets are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Rockets are 6-18 ATS in their last 24 vs. NBA Pacific.
- Rockets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 overall.
- Under is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 road games.
- Under is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Under is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 vs. Western Conference.
- Under is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 vs. NBA Southwest.
- Under is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Warriors last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Over is 4-1 in Warriors last 5 Conference Finals games.
- Under is 19-6-1 in Warriors last 26 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 5-2 in Warriors last 7 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Under is 17-8 in Warriors last 25 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-0 in Rockets last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Under is 11-0 in Rockets last 11 vs. NBA Pacific.
- Under is 7-1 in Rockets last 8 games following a ATS loss.
- Under is 5-1 in Rockets last 6 Conference Finals games.
- Under is 5-1 in Rockets last 6 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Under is 9-2 in Rockets last 11 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Under is 6-2 in Rockets last 8 games following a straight up loss.
- Under is 6-2 in Rockets last 8 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Over is 6-2 in Rockets last 8 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
- Under is 30-11 in Rockets last 41 vs. Western Conference.
- Under is 5-2 in Rockets last 7 Wednesday games.
- Under is 15-6 in Rockets last 21 home games.
- Under is 12-5 in Rockets last 17 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Under is 19-8 in Rockets last 27 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
- Under is 11-5 in Rockets last 16 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Over is 15-7 in Rockets last 22 games following a double-digit loss at home.
- Under is 36-17 in Rockets last 53 overall.
- Under is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings in Houston.
- Warriors are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Houston.
- Under is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings.
- Warriors are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
- Road team is 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings.
