Golden State (2-2) at Houston (2-2)
When: Thursday, May 24th 2018
Where: Toyota Center, Houston, TX
Time: 9:05 ET | TV: TNT
Opening Odds: Houston -1/224.5
The Houston Rockets knew they needed a better defensive effort in Game 4 after getting scorched in the previous game by the Golden State Warriors. The Rockets came through when it mattered most – the fourth quarter – and regained momentum and home court advantage in their best-of-seven Western Conference Finals series with the Warriors on Tuesday with a 95-92 victory. James Harden scored 30 points, Chris Paul added 27 and Houston survived the latest second-half flurry by Stephen Curry in Tuesday’s Game 4 win. Golden State missed their final six shots from the floor and their NBA-record postseason winning streak at home ended at 16 games. The Rockets shook off a 12-0 deficit to start the game, then won it with defense down the stretch. “I thought this is the highest level we’ve every played defensively, without a doubt,” Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni said, “because we’re talking about the best offensive team ever.” Houston allowed 126 points on 52.2% shooting in a 41-point loss in Game 3 but came out with a renewed passion on the defensive end in Game 4 and held the Warriors to 12 points in the fourth quarter. Game 5 takes place Thursday night back in Houston were the teams split the first two games of this series, trading blowout victories.
Golden State held Houston to 39 percent shooting in Game 4 but were blown-out in quarters two and four, leading to concerns about inconsistency. The Warriors shot 39.3% from the floor in the loss and All-Star shooting guard Klay Thompson was held to 10 points on 4-of-13 shooting, giving him an average of 10.3 points over the last three games after going off for 28 in Game 1. Thompson is battling a knee injury and is questionable for Game 5 in Houston. Small forward Andre Iguodala (leg) is also questionable after sitting out Game 4. Kevin Durant recorded his first double-double of the series with 27 points and 12 rebounds on Tuesday.
Houston is now in control of what is turned into a best-of-three series with two of those games in Houston, as the Rockets seek to knock the Warriors off their three-year reign as Western Conference champs. Paul battled a foot injury in Game 4 but turned in his best scoring effort of the series with 27 points on 10-of-20 shooting, but shooting guard Eric Gordon is 3-of-16 from 3-point range over the last two games..
Both teams have proven they can win away from home, so this makes predicting this one a little tougher. Houston did a good job off wearing-down the Warriors and weathering the storm until Golden State had no more gas left in the fourth. Thompson’s injury along with Iguodala is a big concern for the Warriors. Houston has the momentum and the home court in this one. I’m taking the Rockets.
Pick: Rockets +1
- Warriors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss.
- Warriors are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS loss.
- Warriors are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 Conference Finals games.
- Warriors are 10-23 ATS in their last 33 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Warriors are 5-13 ATS in their last 18 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Warriors are 4-12 ATS in their last 16 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Warriors are 5-16 ATS in their last 21 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Warriors are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Thursday games.
- Rockets are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Rockets are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
- Rockets are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 Thursday games.
- Rockets are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 vs. NBA Pacific.
- Rockets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 4-0-1 in Warriors last 5 games following a straight up loss.
- Over is 7-1 in Warriors last 8 Thursday games.
- Under is 6-1 in Warriors last 7 overall.
- Under is 6-1 in Warriors last 7 vs. Western Conference.
- Under is 6-1 in Warriors last 7 vs. NBA Southwest.
- Under is 4-1 in Warriors last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Under is 4-1 in Warriors last 5 road games.
- Under is 4-1 in Warriors last 5 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Under is 4-1 in Warriors last 5 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Under is 4-1 in Warriors last 5 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
- Under is 4-1 in Warriors last 5 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Under is 18-7-1 in Warriors last 26 games following a ATS loss.
- Under is 5-0 in Rockets last 5 Thursday games.
- Under is 6-1 in Rockets last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
- Under is 13-3 in Rockets last 16 vs. NBA Pacific.
- Under is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 Conference Finals games.
- Under is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
- Under is 11-4 in Rockets last 15 games following a straight up win.
- Under is 32-12 in Rockets last 44 vs. Western Conference.
- Under is 22-10 in Rockets last 32 games playing on 1 days rest.
- Under is 15-7 in Rockets last 22 home games.
- Under is 38-18 in Rockets last 56 overall.
- Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.
- Under is 6-2 in the last 8 meetings in Houston.
- Warriors are 10-4 ATS in the last 14 meetings in Houston.
