Warriors vs. Rockets NBA Playoffs Odds, Picks and Predictions for Game 1

The last Game 1 of the first round is Sunday night late in Houston when the second-seeded Rockets host seventh-seeded Golden State.

Houston has never beaten Golden State in a playoff series and it will be the playoff debut for the Rockets young core of stars led by center Alperen Sengun.

Does playoff experience matter? We saw Saturday it did in the Knicks win over the Pistons, but we also saw youthful energy win out in Minnesota’s win over the Lakers.

Warriors vs. Rockets Odds

Golden State is getting a point, maybe a point and a half tonight. Whenever I see a one-point spread I just think it’s like a pick’em game and don’t worry about the point. If you win/lose by a point, well, that’s pure luck.

The Warriors are 41-39-3 against the spread this season. They are 24-17 on the road and have won six in a row on the road.

Golden State has also covered the spread the last six times they’ve played in Houston.

Houston is 42-38-2 against the spread. They lost their last three games against the number. Five of their last six games have ticked the over.

The last four meetings between these two teams have all gone under. The total is 212.5 for tonight. That’s a pretty low number for an NBA game.

Warriors vs. Rockets Prediction

We all know the Warriors story. They brought in Jimmy Butler to give them a boost, and he’s delivered, but there’s Regular Season Jimmy and “Playoff Jimmy.” It’s amazing how Butler can elevate his game in the playoffs. He’s averaged 21.3 points in 119 career playoff games.

Steph Curry still does Steph Curry things. He led the NBA in threes attempted at 11.2. When he gets hot, the game is over, no matter what.

Houston is the most slept-on team in the NBA. After years in NBA purgatory, the Rockets put it together this season. Sengun, in his fourth year, put up 19 and 10 a game. His game is all over the place. He can pass, he can play with power, or he can shoot mid-range.

The Rockets led the NBA in total rebounds and offensive rebounds. Also, they were second this season in perhaps the most important NBA stat nowadays, defending the three.

Amen Thompson, brother of Pistons guard Ausar Thompson, has emerged as an elite defender. He’s only 22. The Rockets leading scorer, Jalen Green, is also 22.

I don’t need to tell you that none of the Warriors stars, Curry, Butler, or Draymond Green, are that young.

Are the Rockets ready to take out the aging Warriors?

Warriors vs. Rockets Pick

Golden State beat the Rockets in three of five meetings this season, but Houston won the most recent one 106-96 on the road (and covered the spread in doing so).

I believe this is the Rockets coming-out party. A lot of people were focused on the Western Conference playoff race with the battle for seeds 3-8, meanwhile, the Rockets were all set at the two seed. Golden State will make a run here and there, but Houston will have every answer.

The pick: Rockets -1 (-112 at DraftKings)