The Houston Rockets (64-33 SU, 57-40 ATS) might have come back from down 3-1 against the Clippers to win their last series.
But their chances of coming back from down 3-0 against the Golden State Warriors (78-17 SU, 53-41-1 ATS) are virtually nil heading into Monday's Game 4.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The good news for the Rockets is that they’re going to go from a very public team at -1.5 in Game 3 to a very sharp team at +4.5 in Game 4. History will tell you that teams which get blown out in Game 3 to fall down 3-0 also get destroyed in Game 4, though obviously, Houston flipped the script after falling into a 3-1 hole last round against the Clippers.
The total has continued to drop all series long, and the number to beat now is just 214.
INJURY REPORT
The injury front seems to be kind to both of these teams right now. Dwight Howard's knee problems officially seem to be a thing of the past after he played in both Games 2 and 3, and that removes any short-term concerns that either team has.
QUOTE TO NOTE
"We understand it's a special moment. It's just we're wrapped up in our day-to-day grind of preparing for games and going out and exerting all the effort we need to make this story happen. So it's kind of hard to remove yourself from those emotions." – Golden State guard Stephen Curry on living in the moment in the postseason
BETTING TRENDS
- The Warriors are already 2-0 SU and ATS here in the playoffs when facing the ability to close out their opponents.
- The Rockets are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 games following an SU defeat of at least 10 points.
- The UNDER is 9-1 in Golden State's last 10 games overall and is 3-0 in this series.
KEY STATS
0: The number of teams who have ever come back from down 3-0 to win a series. The Rockets know they’re facing virtually impossible odds, and we have to wonder if this is the point they give up after putting so much into the comeback against LA in the last round.
18.8 percent: James Harden's shooting percentage in Game 3. Theoretically, Harden should have played even better ball at home than he did on the road in Oakland in Games 1 and 2, but the switch to put Andre Iguodala and the lanky Harrison Barnes on him instead of Klay Thompson worked like a charm. Harden was frustrated all game long, and his stats don't lie about it.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
Many put a fork in Houston after Game 3 against the Clippers, and they certainly did so after Game 4 and a second straight horrible loss. This time around, we expect to see the opposite result playing out.
The Rockets just look gassed right now. They put so much effort into coming back from that first 3-1 deficit, and now, they just don't have anything left in the tank. Howard is giving them everything he has, but doesn't quite look 100 percent, and Harden looks all but cooked.
Expect to see the Warriors' pressure shine through, as they'll sweep this series and head to the NBA Finals with ease.
Golden State 108, Houston 94
BookMaker sent out the NBA odds for this Monday game before anyone else in the industry. The opening numbers featured Golden State at -4.5 and a total of 214. Live wagering during commercials offers an adjusted moneyline, totals and spreads. Log in, and start gambling during the game now!
Access live betting from your mobile device or tablet at BookMaker Sportsbook! You can wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker's live betting platform. Real-time spreads, totals, props and moneylines are all available by clicking here, so start betting with BookMaker right now! Bet on the NBA today as the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets square off Monday, May 25, 2015 at 9:00 p.m. ET at the Toyota Center in Houston, TX. The matchup will be televised nationally on ESPN.
