Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets Betting Analysis
SportsMemo content contributor Kyle Kargel breaks down tonight’s Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets showdown on Monday, January 31. At the time of posting, the Warriors have opened as a 10.5-point road favorite over the home Rockets, with the total sitting at 228.5 points.
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Monday, January 31 | NBA Betting Notes |
---|---|
Point Spread: | Golden State Warriors -10.5 at Houston Rockets |
Total: | 228.5 Points |
Game Time: | 8:10pm ET / 5:10pm PT |
Arena: | Toyota Center in Houston, TX |
TV: | NBC Sports Bay Area |
Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets Preview
The Rockets welcome a red hot Warriors team (5-0 last five) into the Toyota Center for a Western Conference showdown that’s sure to see a ton of possessions as both theses teams like to play at a fast pace. The difference is the Warriors rank 1st in the NBA in defensive efficiency rating and the Rockets rank dead last.
The Rockets will look to take advantage of multiple Warriors players still nursing injuries including Andre Iguodala, Draymond Green and Otto Porter Jr. The Rockets are coming off three straight losses so let’s see where we can make some money on this one.
Warriors Find Ways to Overcome Injuries
The Warriors current five game winning streak started with a win over the Rockets on Jan. 21, 105-103 so Houston is definitely capable of keeping up with Golden State, but now that Klay Thompson is starting to find is groove, it might be tough for the Rockets to pull off the upset.
Thompson is averaging over 17 ppg during his last five games while helping take some of the scoring load off Curry who is still trying to find his way out of a shooting slump. A game against the Rockets seems to be the best time to get out of any type of offensive slump and improve his 3 pt shooting currently sitting at 31%.
Other offensive contributors for the Warriors the last five games are Jordan Poole and Western Conference All Star starter Andrew Wiggins, both of whom are averaging 18 or more ppg in their last five.
Young Rockets Try to Shine
The Rockets continue to work on their young core including Jalen Green, Jae’Sean Tate and Garrison Mathews. The team is led by Christian Wood who is currently averaging over 17 ppg and 10 rpg.
If the Rockets are going to have a chance in this one, he’s going to have to work the Warriors inside where they seem to struggle most on defense, especially without the presence of Green. Kevin Porter Jr. will be out for this one which will be a big blow to their perimeter scoring. The Rockets overall have only won four games in January and might be falling into tank mode as we enter the second half of the season.
Where the Rockets shine most is at the free throw line where they rank 3rd in the league in free throws made per game and behind the three point line where they rank 8th in three pointers made per game. So whether it’s Christian Wood driving inside or others getting open threes, there may be a chance the Rockets could surprise some.
Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets Prediction
We all have to figure at some point the Warriors will be at full health and be mauling teams towards the end of the season, but for now they may be continuing this streak by winning single digit games.
The Rockets have enough young players to keep pace with the Warriors, but might not have the scoring in the end to win the game. I think the Warriors win but the Rockets keep it close.
PREDICTION: Rockets +10.5 and Over
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Monday’s #NBA Notes:
📝New Orleans has won nine of the last ten vs Cleveland.
📝The Grizzlies are 15-4 against the spread in their last 19 games.
📝Sacramento has lost 11-straight road games.
📝The Rockets are 0-9 ATS in their last nine as a home ‘dog.
➡️https://t.co/RHOuvIh65a pic.twitter.com/CgSV1OzR2L— GoldSheet (@thegoldsheet) January 31, 2022
Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets Notes from GoldSheet
This series has trended to Golden State’s liking lately, with the Warriors taking 5 straight and the Rockets covering just one of those. That Houston cover came just 10 days ago when the Rockets came dangerously close to humiliating Golden State, running out to a 54-43 halftime lead and making the Warriors sing for their supper in the 2nd half, as Steve Kerr’s side left it late.
It took a 3rd quarter Golden State rally to get them back into the game and then a walkoff jumper from Steph Curry to win it at the buzzer to decide it with zeros on the clock. Again, a quick review will be in order and there will be tacit attention to the game review, but let’s not forget the Warriors are 37-13 and Houston is 14-35, so we know who’s who and what’s what in the game.
However Golden State has shown cracks in their 3rd quarter dominance and have been vulnerable as a hefty favorite lately, sporting a 2-5 last seven mark laying eight points or more. But here’s the problem…the Rockets are on an 0-9 bender as a home dog (and 8-1 “over” in those games), and the Warriors likely will have some incentive to react to close call in first meeting. Play the Over.
NBA Stat Sheet
Each day, WagerTalk handicapper Ralph Michaels puts together his NBA Stat Sheet, which offers a head-to-head comparison for how teams are performing in a number of key areas heading into a game. Check out Monday’s sheet, with notes on tonight’s Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets contest.
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