The Rockets and Warriors split the first two games in this NBA Conference Final series. Game 3 is crucial. We take a look at the betting and provide free tips.
The Rockets and Warriors split the first two games in this NBA Conference Final series. Game 3 is crucial. We take a look at the betting and provide free tips.
Game 3 Sunday May 20, 8:00 PM EST at ORACLE Arena Oakland, CA
At Bovada the Warriors are a 7-point home favorite with the total sitting at 227.
The Western Conference finals are tied at 1-1.
The Rockets tied up this series with their Game 2 127-105 win over the Golden State Warriors, but gave up home court advantage in the series with the Game 1 loss.
Houston got off to a great start in Game 2 outscoring the Warriors by 14 points in the first half. They shot a better FG% (51.1% to 45.9%) and a better 3-pt FG% (38.1% to 30%).
Unlike Game 1 the Rockets had much more balance in Game 2 with three players going for at least 22 points and five players, including four starters, going for at least 16 points. James Harden led the team going for 27 points and also added 10 rebounds and he needed the help in Game 2 since he missed 12 of his 15 3-pointers.
Harden and Chris Paul combined for 43 points, but were only 15/38 from the floor while the SF duo of Trevor Ariza and PJ Tucker combined for 41 points on 15/18 shooting. This is after these two only combined for nine points in the Game 1 loss.
In Game 2 Kevin Durant went for 38 points, but did have five turnovers, and Klay Thomson only went for eight points and Steph Curry had only 16 on 7/19 shooting only hitting one of his eight 3-pointers.
The Warriors were never really close in the game and head coach Steve Kerr stated, “We got outplayed the whole game … we got it handed to us.”
After allowing the Warriors to shoot 52.5% from the floor in Game 1 they played much better D in game 2 and their stops facilitated their offense.
In Game 3 the Rockets have to use the blueprint from Game 2 playing good defense, getting a balanced scoring attack, and keeping Curry and Thomson from lighting it up from deep.
The Rockets won their only regular-season game facing the Warriors in Golden State beating them 122-121 on opening night.
The Warriors have failed to cover the spread in eight of their last 11 home games and that trend will continue. Game 3 will be the first close game in the series and while the Warriors will get the win the Rockets will cover spread at Bovada, getting seven points.