The top-seeded Golden State Warriors (11-2 SU, 6-7 ATS) can punch their ticket to the NBA Finals with a win over the Houston Rockets (8-7 SU, 9-6 ATS) Monday. You can watch the game live on ESPN.
I don’t think we can say the Warriors aren’t focused after Saturday’s 115-80 dismantling of the Rockets to get within one victory of their first NBA Finals appearance since 1975. The Warriors embarrassed Houston on its floor to take a commanding 3-0 lead in the series. Golden State has won all seven meetings this season going 5-2 ATS while the under has cashed in each of the last five games.
Houston was feeling good about their chances after a couple near misses in Oakland and felt the homecourt would be the impetus to move them into the W column against Golden State for the first time this season. They forgot they still had to play the game. Houston was dealt its worst home postseason defeat in franchise history Saturday and now must make history to advance. No team in league history has overcome a 3-0 series deficit.
KEY INJURY
Rockets center Dwight Howard has overcome his left knee sprain he sustained in Game One and was the best player on the court for his team Saturday scoring 14 points with 14 rebounds.
QUOTE TO NOTE
“We have five more wins to accomplish our main goal and obviously one more to get one step closer. So until that happens there’s no time to really lose focus or to change anything about how we’ve gotten here.” – Warriors guard Stephen Curry
BETTING TRENDS
- Golden State is 4-1 ATS in its last five road games.
- Houston is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 home games.
- The UNDER is 9-3 in the last 12 head-to-head meetings
KEY STATS
64: Warriors guard Stephen Curry made seven three-pointers on Saturday, has hit 18 of 31 in the series, and set an NBA record for most threes in a postseason with 64.
37: The Rockets scored playoff lows of 18 points in the first quarter and 37 points in the first half in Saturday’s loss.
ANALYSIS AND PREDICTION
One win away from reaching the NBA Finals for the first time since they won the title in 1975, don’t expect the Warriors to ease up after taking a 3-0 lead in the series. It just isn’t in their nature. “It’s easy for us to stay hungry because none of us have really experienced this before or accomplished really anything,” Stephen Curry said. They showed no signs of letting up Saturday, controlling the game from start to finish in a magnificent performance to take a 3-0 series lead. The Rockets had no answer for MVP Curry, who hit seven of nine three-pointers and torched them for 40 points.
The Rockets need to turn the page after an embarrassing loss in Game Three, the most lopsided home postseason defeat in franchise history. It’s hard to explain how they could look so listless and overmatched in what was the biggest game of the season, especially after coming so close to getting a win on the road. “We can’t fold. We can’t quit because we’re down. It’s easy to just give up and say they’re playing great. But they’re going to have to take all of us out on a stretcher,” said Dwight Howard.
Faced with elimination in their last series, the Rockets battled back from a 3-1 series deficit to knock off the Clippers, showing fight we didn’t see from them in two blowout losses in LA. The Rockets are facing a similar situation here, but let’s be real, the Warriors are not the Clippers, and no team in NBA history has come back after falling behind 3-0. The Warriors removed any doubt early with a stifling defensive effort and the Rockets were simply overwhelmed. Golden State goes for the knockout punch and if James Harden and Co. can’t counter, this one is over.
Golden State 112, Houston 105
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 Monday, May 25, 2015, at 9 p.m. ET at the Toyota Center. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN.
