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NBA Odds: Limping Rockets Return Home for Game 3 vs Warriors

Written by on May 22, 2015

NBA News and Rumors
While it would be nice to simply blow teams away en route to a championship, the reality is that there are nights when your team is going to have to dig a little deeper in order to get the win. That is exactly what the Golden State Warriors did in Game 2 of the Western Conference Final against the Houston Rockets. It may not have been pretty, but the series now shifts to Houston with Golden State up 2-0, so let’s get in the NBA odds and analyze the possible scenarios heading to this match.

NBA Playoffs, Golden State vs. Houston

Date/Time: Saturday, May 23rd, 9:00 PM
Location: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas Spread: Golden State -1½ TV: ESPN Radio: 790 AM
  The Houston Rockets, and James Harden in particular, are going to look back at the finish of Game 2 and have a couple of sleepless nights. The Warriors had the 99-98 lead and control of the ball with a little over 30 seconds remaining. Stephen Curry, unable to get a shot away, dishes it off to Harrison Barnes, who attempts a tough reverse layoff that he misses. James Harden comes away with the ball and takes off up the court with less than 10 seconds to play. This is a dream scenario for the Rockets, but Harden is shut down and is forced to pass to Dwight Howard, who then gives it right back to Harden. The bearded one bobbles the ball and the game is over. All of this took place in a matter of seconds, but it’s a series of plays that may well change the entire outcome of the series. The Rockets are going to have to put this out of their mind when they head back home for Game 3 on Saturday.
Much has been made about the offensive play of the Golden State Warriors all season long, and rightly so. What often gets overlooked is their defensive game. Just how good they are on the defensive side of the court was made very apparent in that final play of Game 2. The speed at which Klay Thompson and Steph Curry got back to block off the lane that Harden had to the basket was incredible. It was that double coverage that caused him to stop and dish the ball off to Howard, and to then basically try and rush a move with time running out. It’s the sort of defensive play that gets missed by the average fan, but is one that may have made all the difference in the outcome of this game.

NBA Betting Trends

Houston Rockets
  • Houston is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
  • Houston is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games
  • The total has gone OVER in 6 of Houston’s last 8 games
  • Houston is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
  • The total has gone OVER in 5 of Houston’s last 6 games on the road
  • Houston is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Golden State
  • Houston is 0-5 SU in its last 5 games when playing Golden State
  • The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Houston’s last 10 games when playing Golden State
  • Houston is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing on the road against Golden State
  • The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Houston’s last 6 games when playing on the road against Golden State
Golden State Warriors
  • Golden State is 13-2 SU in its last 15 games
  • The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Golden State’s last 8 games
  • Golden State is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games at home
  • Golden State is 23-1 SU in its last 24 games at home
  • The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Golden State’s last 5 games at home
  • Golden State is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Houston
  • Golden State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Houston
  • The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Golden State’s last 10 games when playing Houston
  • Golden State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Houston
  • The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Golden State’s last 6 games when playing at home against Houston
klay thompson
Houston are now in a must win scenario for Game 3. This series has been a whole lot closer than most thought it would be, so you get the sense that Houston does have a chance to win at home. I don’t see it happening in this one, though, and I like the Warriors to take a 3-0 stranglehold on the series.
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