The Golden State Warriors didn’t have Kevin Durant in the fourth quarter of Game 5, but it didn’t matter. Draymond Green, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson all stepped up as the team secured a critical win to take a 3-2 lead over the Houston Rockets.
This thrilling Western Conference Semifinals showdown will head back to Houston for a Game 6 that the Rockets need to win in order to extend the series to a do-or-die Game 7. Houston will be the favorite in this one and the spread will be bigger now that Durant has been ruled out for the Game 6 matchup.
The Rockets missed a golden chance to take control of the series against a short-handed Golden State team in Game 5 but will be confident they can win Game 6 at home in NBA gambling.
This NBA basketball game between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets will be held at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, May 10th, 2019. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.
We'll have NBA basketball odds at BookMaker.eu available for every game of the 2019 NBA season.
Odds Analysis
There is no line yet for this game and there may not be one for awhile as the oddsmakers want to make sure Durant’s status is concrete. He is arguably the most talented player in a star-studded series and has the capability to greatly affect the outcome.
The Rockets would be favored either way, but it would be by a few more points if Durant is unavailable. Keep an eye on the matchup because at some point the oddsmakers will need to make a determination in NBA gambling.
The injury will also have an effect on where the scoring total sits as Durant’s presence makes the Warriors much harder to guard.
Last Time Out
Green and Thompson knocked down critical three-pointers in the final few minutes as the Warriors blew a 20-point lead but then picked it back up for the 104-99 victory. Thompson was fantastic throughout the contest and finished with 27 points on 11-of-20 from the floor, including a lay-up in the final seconds to ice the win. Curry started the game slowly but came up big in the second half and finished with 25 points.
James Harden finished with 31 points and eight assists for the Rockets, but Eric Gordon and Chris Paul struggled as Houston didn’t get enough offensive output in this one.
Injury Report
Durant was injured in the third quarter and didn’t return to the game. He grabbed at his leg after taking a jump shot and the initial fear was that he could have an Achilles injury, but instead it was only announced as a calf strain. Durant did not return to the game but seems to have avoided serious injury, but it remains to be seen when he will get back on the court.
Durant had 22 points in Game 5 and has been the best player on the Warriors in this series. There is no overstating just how important of a player he is, and his possible absence is going to have a sizable effect on the spread.
Free NBA ATS Picks
The first two games in Houston in this series were close, but the Rockets were able to make enough big shots down the stretch to come away with the victory. Durant’s injury will give them a good chance at sweeping all three home games in the series.
Houston would love to force a Game 7 back in Golden State, and it’s going to happen. Look for the Rockets to take advantage of a short-handed Warriors team and come away with a critical win to extend their season. Check back later to see where the spread and moneyline odds come in for NBA gambling.
NBA ATS Pick: Houston Rockets 109, Golden State Warriors 103
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