Rockets vs Warriors NBA Pick: Can Houston End Its Three-Game Skid? (Apr 20)

• The Houston Rockets finished the regular season with a 52-30 record, earning them the No. 2 seed out west.
• The Golden State Warriors locked up the No. 7 seed with a win over the Grizzlies in the first round of the Play-In tournament.
• These teams last played on Apr. 6, with the Rockets claiming a 106-96 victory.

One of the games on Sunday’s NBA slate features the Houston Rockets hosting the Golden State Warriors. Which team takes Game 1 in our Rockets vs Warriors pick?

Rockets Look To End Three-Game Slide

The Rockets concluded the 2024-25 campaign with a three-game slide, including a 126-111 setback against the Denver Nuggets in the season finale.

Fred VanVleet and Amen Thompson led the starting unit with 15 points each, while Alperen Sengun added 14 points. Houston’s bench had a solid outing, putting up 57 points.

Houston trailed by 13 points at the break before Denver seized control of the game with a 37-19 burst in the third quarter, giving the road team a comfortable 31-point advantage entering the final frame.

Warriors Hope For One More Magical Postseason Run

Meanwhile, the Warriors have split their last six games following a five-game win streak. This stretch includes a 121-116 win over the Memphis Grizzlies in the opening round of the Play-In tournament.

Jimmy Butler III and Stephen Curry were determined to lead the Dubs to the postseason. Buter led the way with 38 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and three steals.

Curry added 37 points, eight boards, and four dimes. He shot 6-of-13 from 3-point range and knocked down all 13 of his free throw attempts

Memphis had one last chance after Curry nailed a pair of free throws with 5.4 seconds left to play. However, Santi Aldama failed to inbound the ball before a five-second violation was called, which preserved the win for Golden State.

Rockets vs Warriors Pick: Who Takes The Opener Of This First-Round Matchup?

The Rockets were a middle-of-the-road team offensively but finished sixth in points allowed, giving up 109.8 points per game.

On the other side of the matchup, the Warriors were 15th in offensive efficiency and seventh in defensive rating, allowing 111.7 points per 100 possessions. With that in mind, points may not be that easy to come by in this series.

Golden State has won six of the previous eight meetings between the franchises, including a 3-2 mark against Houston this season. However, the Rockets are the No. 2 seed for a reason, so look for this group to bounce back after choosing to rest some of its top players down the stretch.