The feisty, young Rockets will look to upset the battle-tested Warriors in Round 1 of the NBA Playoffs.
Despite winning four more games and playing four competitive games during the regular season against Golden State, Houston is a heavy underdog heading into the series opener Sunday.
The second-seeded Rockets are currently +140 at BetMGM to pull off the upset, with the seventh-seeded Warriors coming in as -165 favorites.
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| Team | Odds |
|---|---|
| Warriors | -165 |
| Rockets | +140 |
If the regular season is any indication, this series should be much more competitive than that.
The Warriors and Rockets played five thrilling games this season thanks, including one overtime Warriors win in November, a one-point victory for the Rockets in December during the in-season tournament and three more games decided by ten or fewer points.
Golden State won three of those five games, but Houston’s stout defense may have figured something out when it comes to slowing down Steph Curry.
In four games against the Rockets this season, Curry averaged just 19.5 points, including a three-point, 1-for-10 shooting stinker earlier this month as the Warriors battled for playoff position.
The Rockets feature a lineup full of athletic wings, including Amen Thompson, Dillon Brooks and Tari Eason, that they can throw at Curry to slow him down.
The same can’t be said for the aging Warriors, who will have a hard time keeping up with the Rockets’ young legs.
This just might be the Rockets’ coming-out party.
While a deep playoff run for a roster so young is unlikely, bet on this series to be closer than the oddsmakers are anticipating.
The play: Rockets +1.5 series spread (-130)
Dylan Svoboda is a versatile writer and analyst across many sports. He’s particularly knowledgeable about the big three — MLB, the NFL and the NBA.
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