Warriors vs Rockets NBA Pick: Dubs Face Potential Uphill Battle In Game 3 (Apr 26)

• After stealing Game 1, the Golden State Warriors dropped Game 2.
• Riding the momentum of a dominant win, the Rockets look to take a 2-1 series lead.
• These teams last played on Apr. 22, with the Rockets claiming a 109-94 victory.

One of the games on Saturday’s NBA slate features the Golden State Warriors hosting the Houston Rockets in Game 3 of a first-round Western Conference playoff series. Can Golden State bounce back from a double-digit loss in our Warriors vs Rockets pick?

Warriors-Rockets Game 2 Recap

After the Warriors held Houston to its lowest scoring output of the season in Game 1, they were defeated 109-94 in Game 2.

Stephen Curry led the way with 20 points, nine assists, and five rebounds, including a 4-for-9 effort from beyond the arc.

Moses Moody added 12 points and connected on three of his six attempts from 3-point range—the rest of the starting five combined for just 11 points on 3-for-13 shooting from the field.

On the other side of the matchup, the Rockets’ offense placed four players in double figures. Jalen Green had a bounce-back performance, putting up 38 points, four rebounds, six assists, and three steals. He shot 13-for-25 overall and knocked down eight 3-pointers on 18 attempts.

Alperen Sengun stuffed the stat sheet, adding 17 points, 16 points (including six on the offensive glass), seven assists, and two steals.

Houston led by 20 points at the 10-minute mark in the final frame before Golden State used a 9-0 run to get within 11. However, the Rockets responded with an 8-0 run to push their lead back to 19 points (99-80) with five and a half minutes left to play.

Not only did Golden State lose this contest, but Jimmy Butler III also exited the game in the first quarter due to a pelvis contusion following a hard foul. His status is uncertain for Game 3.

Warriors vs Rockets Pick: Who Has The Edge In Game 3 Of This First-Round Matchup?

Does Golden State bounce back, or does Houston ride its newfound momentum to a win in the next matchup? Let’s look at a few notable trends for both sides heading into Game 3.

• The Warriors are 9-4 straight-up (SU) in their last 13 games.
• Golden State is 1-5 against the spread in its previous six home contests.
• The Rockets are 3-17 in their last 20 matchups against the Warriors.
• Houston has covered the spread twice in its previous seven road matchups.

With Game 3 on their home court, the Dubs are favored by a slim 2.5-point margin. However, if Butler can’t go, not only should Houston cover, but they should also win the game.