The top-seeded Golden State Warriors (10-2 SU, 5-7 ATS) look for a commanding 3-0 lead in the Western Conference Final over the Houston Rockets (8-6 SU, 9-5 ATS) Saturday.
You can watch the game live on ESPN.
The Warriors did what they had to – protect homecourt – and took a 2-0 lead in the series with a thrilling 99-98 win Thursday in Game Two of the Western Conference Final. Golden State can take a commanding lead in the series with a win Friday but better not get too comfortable knowing the Rockets came back in the previous round while facing elimination in three games.
James Harden did all he could to get the Rockets a win Thursday except hit the game-winning basket. That’s because he never got the chance even though he had the basketball with time running out. The one-point loss was tough but the Rockets know they can compete with Golden State after dropping all four regular season games by double-digits. Close doesn’t count, however, and the Rockets need to get a victory in what is certainly a must-win game.
KEY INJURY
Rockets center Dwight Howard was listed as questionable for Thursday’s game, but he started and played over 40 minutes with a brace over his sprained left knee. He was obviously slowed by the injury but still produced at both ends of the floor with 19 points and 17 rebounds.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“Obviously, it hurts whether you lose by one or lose by 20. It doesn’t really matter. What is encouraging is that you’re going home. This is a must-win game for us. It’s must-win time. You got to love it. It’s the Western Conference finals and what better place to be than going home. The sense of urgency is going to be there for the tip.” – Rockets guard Jason Terry
BETTING TRENDS
- Golden State is 6-12 ATS in its last 18 games overall.
- Houston is 5-0 ATS in its last five games overall.
- The UNDER is 9-2-1 in Golden State’s 12 postseason games.
KEY STATS
38: Rockets guard James Harden scored 38 points Thursday, his fourth game with 30 or more in Houston’s 14 postseason games.
57: Golden State guard Stephen Curry made five three-pointers Thursday, giving him 57 in the postseason, one behind Reggie Miller’s NBA single postseason record.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
The Warriors continue to show everyone why they were the best team during the regular season. This is a team built to win a championship and they inched closer with a tight one-point win Thursday. The Dubs took a punch to the gut from Memphis last round and responded with a quick hook to eliminate the Griz after falling behind. They had Thursday’s game in hand, gave it up, then slammed the door with a gritty defensive play holding Houston without a shot attempt when the Rockets could have won the game. Golden State has a variety of options and they’re all used to perfection by coach Steve Kerr. “It’s great competition. It’s two teams that really want to get to the finals,” the coach said.
A Game Two win was in their hands and the Rockets let it slip away. James Harden was magnificent Thursday, scoring 38 points, but it was the shot he didn’t take that will haunt him. Harden failed to uncork a last-second game-winning attempt, having the ball knocked away as he was double-teamed by Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry in the waning moments, and the Rockets return home in an 0-2 hole. “I’ll take our best player heading downhill on a broken court any day of the week, that’s where he feasts,” coach Kevin McHale said of the game’s final play after he chose not to call a timeout with the Warriors scrambling.
The series has provided exciting basketball with the two best teams in the West and possibly the two best players in the game going after each other. Thursday it was the Rockets who exploded at the end of the first half in a reversal of Game One, they just couldn’t put it away despite making the plays to get in position for the win. “We let two slip away. So now we go back to Houston and take care of business at home,” Harden said afterwards. The Rockets played their best basketball with their backs against the wall to overcome a two-game series deficit to the Clippers last round and find themselves in the same predicament now. On their home floor Saturday, Houston makes this an interesting series.
Houston 107, Golden State 102
The NBA lines for this contest will first be released by BookMaker sportsbook. Gamble on the game between every commercial break with BookMaker’s live betting feature. Along with an adjusted in-game moneyline, you can wager on what will happen on the next play or how many points will be scored in the next half. Live betting is the most exciting way to play!
Load your betting bankroll from your smartphone with BookMaker’s new cashier feature! Depositing and withdrawing funds from your account has never been easier. BookMaker's live betting platform means you always have access to odds and lines to every sporting event. Click here and start wagering today! The matchup between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets will go down Saturday, May 23, 2015, at 9 p.m. ET at the Toyota Center. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
