Rockets vs Warriors NBA Pick: Will Houston Bounce Back In Game 2 (Apr 23)

• The Houston Rockets finished with the second-best record in the West, but stumbled in Game 1.
• The Golden State Warriors, who finished at the No. 7 spot, look to steal another road game.
• These teams last played on Apr. 20, with the Warriors coming out on top with a double-digit victory.

One of the games on Wednesday’s NBA slate features the Houston Rockets hosting the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of a first-round Western Conference playoff series. Which team comes out on top in our Rockets vs Warriors pick?

Rockets vs Warriors Game 1 Recap

The Rockets clinched the No. 2 seed in the conference playoff race, but they didn’t answer the bell in Game 1, falling to the Warriors 95-85.

Alperen Sengun was a force at both ends of the court. He scored a team-high 26 points on 11-for-19 shooting from the field. Houston’s big man also tallied nine rebounds and three steals.

Dillon Brooks added 11 points and three rebounds. Fred VanVleet chipped in with 10 points and seven dimes, but shot 4-for-19 overall and 2-for-13 from beyond the arc.

Meanwhile, Chef Curry was cooking once again for the Dubs. He put up 31 points, grabbed six rebounds, and handed out three assists. The former league MVP also knocked down five 3-pointers.

Jimmy Butler put together a solid performance as well, finishing with 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and five steals.

Despite trailing by 23 points in the third quarter, Houston cut the deficit to 84-80 with two and a half minutes left to play. But Moses Moody hit a key 3-point basket that ignited a 7-0 run, increasing the Warriors’ lead to 11 points.

Rockets vs Warriors Game 2 Pick: Can Houston Bounce Back From A Shaky Game 1 Performance?

Both teams finished the season in the top 10 from a defensive standpoint, but it was Golden State who held Houston to its lowest output in the series opener. With that in mind, here’s a look at a few notable trends for both sides heading into Game 2.

• The Rockets are 1-4 straight up (SU) in their last five games.
• Houston has failed to cover the spread in its previous seven outings against Golden State.
• The Warriors have posted nine wins across their last 12 contests.
• Golden State is 6-0 against the spread in its previous six road matchups.

The Warriors put on a defensive clinic in the opener, holding Houston to 39.1 percent shooting overall and 20.7 percent from 3-point range. However, the Rockets didn’t help their cause, either, committing 17 turnovers, which led to 23 points while missing nine free throws.

If Houston can limit its miscues, though, it will bounce back in a big way when these teams take the court on Wednesday night.