The Warriors truly shone in game one against the Rockets, holding them to under 90 points with a stellar defense that really stifled Houston’s offense. Tonight, Houston has a fantastic chance to turn things around before the series heads to the Bay. This is a pivotal game for them, as dropping the first two home games could make it quite challenging to bounce back. We can’t wait to see who comes out on top tonight- the seasoned veteran team or the exciting new kids on the block!
Jae’Sean Tate Out
Jock Landale Out
None
The Warriors executed their game plan beautifully against Houston! They were great at limiting the Rockets’ second chance points, pushing their shooters to make tough shots. It was impressive to see the Rockets struggle with their accuracy, shooting below 40% from the field and just 20% from three. The Warriors really closed off the rim, not allowing Houston to capitalize on their size advantage for easy points inside. This victory was a true testament to Golden State' s defense, which, with the efforts of Butler and Green, was nothing short of stellar! On the flip side, Houston faced some difficulties getting their game going. They showed their strength on the boards with an impressive 22 offensive rebounds and a total of 52 rebounds! Most of their points came from the paint, adding up to 54 in total. However, it wasn't close to enough to off-set one of their worst shooting nights of the season.
Looking ahead, the Warriors' gameplay will likely focus on crowding the paint, limiting shots at the rim, and trying to force Houston into jump shots. If they can do that again, they'll put themselves in a strong position to win two in a row.
For Houston, the challenges seem a bit tougher. Not only do they need to find a way to contain Steph and Butler on offense, but they also have to rediscover their own rhythm on offense. With the lack of consistent shooters on their roster, they'll need to ramp up their physicality in the paint to score some points. Sengun was the only star last night with 26 points. They'll need someone else besides Sengun to step up tonight. However, with the depth of talent Houston has, I'm confident they can find someone.
Overall, Houston is facing a challenging night ahead. They have the athleticism and strength to hustle the Warriors, but it won't matter if they can't find the basket. Improving their shooting or at least their transition offense will be key. If they can get those going, they definitely have a shot at taking down Golden State tonight! I believe they can do it!
Money line: GSW (+130) / HOU (-155)
Total Points: 204
Spread: +3 GSW (-110) / -3 HOU (-110)
Although last game ended with them facing a tough challenge, I believe a feisty young team like Houston won't back down. I'm excited to see a fresh sense of urgency from them, and they just might be able to put some pressure on the Warriors. I really think the Warriors will struggle to hold off Houston two times in a row, especially on their home turf!
I sometimes wonder if I might be a bit off for betting on teams like Houston, especially since they don't have many natural shooters. But looking back at the entire season, there's plenty of proof that they can score! Houston is tied for 13th in the league for points per game at 114. They've shown they can put up points, even against a strong Warrior defense. With the total set at just 204, we only need them to go past 100 to hit the over.
I'm leaning towards the Houston spread! At only three points, it feels a bit risky, especially if the game comes down to just three throws. However, I think they'll be able to up the scoring tonight, and build up at least a small lead.
Butler poses a significant challenge for the Rockets. He is the only player on the Warriors with the size and skill to take on such a physical team. His ability to work his way into the paint, and find easy shots or earn a trip to the free throw line will be critical. If he can do that, then 23 points should be no problem tonight.
While Sengun really shone in game one against the Warriors, he has found it tough to score against them for most of the season. Even with his size advantage, the strong interior defense from Draymond and now Butler, creates a challenging situation for him to get easy baskets at the rim. I think Sengun might have a harder time finding those clean looks in game two.
Thompson's first game had its challenges. The second-year player often seemed a bit out of sync with the fast-paced Golden State offense. However, now that the stress of that first game is behind him, I think he’ll be much more focused tonight. I'm looking forward to seeing him actively involved on defense, and I think getting 3 STOCKS shouldn’t be too hard for him. He averaged just under that at 2.7 STOCKS per game!
Curry is a surprisingly effective rebounder for a guard! In fact, rebounding against the Rockets is one of the best strategies to take them down. Since Houston struggles with shooting, they depend on second-chance points to stay competitive. Both Curry and Kerr are well aware of this, so you can count on Curry to stay alert for rebounds. He grabbed six in game one, so finding five for the over feels just about right!