Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors Preview
Where: Oracle Arena, Oakland
When: Thursday, December 1, 2016, 10:30 PM ET
Line: Houston Rockets (+10) vs. Golden State Warriors (-10); total: 230.0 – view all NBA lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
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Betting on the Houston Rockets (+10)
Defense has never been the name of the game of any team Mike D’Antoni has ever handled in the NBA, including the Rockets. That was on full display on Tuesday, when Houston let the offensively challenged Jazz shoot 55.4 percent from the field in a 120-114 loss.
That kind of defense will have to tighten up quick, as in the horizon for the Rockets is a duel with the deadly Warriors, who are tops in the league in scoring. The Rockets, of course, could fight fire with fire, as their offense is on par with the best in the league, averaging 109.3 PPG—good for fourth overall. They’ve been even better the last four games, where they’ve put up 112.5 PPG on 47.9 percent shooting from the field.
The Rockets’ offense revolves around the do-it-all James Harden, who leads the team in points (28.7 PPG) and assists (11.9 APG) Harden is also tied with Eric Gordon for team lead with 3.1 three-pointers made per contest. The Rockets are the best outside shooting team in the league, as they are draining 13.8 per game on a relatively efficient 37.8% clip.
Houston is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 road games.
Betting on the Golden State Warriors (-10)
The Warriors are back to haunt Houston. And this time, they’re a more terrifying nightmare than the one last season, when they beat the Rockets in five games in the first round of the playoffs.
For one, Golden State now has Kevin Durant, who appears to have taken the alpha male status from Stephen Curry. Durant leads the Warriors with 27.1 PPG. He scored 25 on 8-for-16 shooting in a 105-100 home win over Atlanta on Monday. It was the Warriors’ 12th-straight victory and extending that streak to 13 is within reach, considering that they’re up against Houston’s soft defense that allows 106.3 PPG.
Curry is no longer scoring like he used to last season with Durant in tow, but the reigning league MVP remains as dangerous as ever, as he is scoring 26.6 PPG on 49.4 FG%.
Defensively, the Warriors are surrendering 104.9 PPG, but are inside the top five in the league in opponents’ shooting percentage (43.2%).
Dating back to 2014, the Warriors are 10-0 SU and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 home games against Houston.
Writer’s Prediction
Golden State (-10) wins, 121-112.
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