The Golden State Warriors are getting their brooms ready one more time. The Dubs’ emphatic 35-point Game 3 win has all but guaranteed their first trip to the NBA Finals since 1975, and they’ll look to punch their ticket with a series sweep of the Rockets.
Houston will have homecourt advantage as it looks to stay alive for one more game. But will it be enough to withstand the Warriors’ assault? Find out more about this potential closeout game with our Game 4 preview below.
The Cleveland Cavaliers will be out to emulate the Warriors by sweeping the hurting Hawks. Check out our preview for Game 4 of the Eastern Finals here.
[sc:NBAArticles ]Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets Game 4 Preview
Series Scores and Schedule
Game 1 – Houston Rockets 106 at Golden State Warriors 110
Game 2 – Houston Rockets 98 at Golden State Warriors 99
Game 3 – Golden State Warriors 115 at Houston Rockets 80
Game 4 – May 25, 9:00 PM ET – Golden State Warriors (-5) at Houston Rockets (+5); total 214.0 – view all NBA lines
Game 5* – May 27, 9:00 PM ET – Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors
Game 6*– May 29, 9:00 PM ET – Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets
Game 7* – May 31, 9:00 PM ET – Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors
*If necessary
Betting on the Golden State Warriors
The Golden State Warriors gave the Houston Rockets – and the rest of the league – a terrifying reminder as to how they won 67 regular season games with an incredible plus-10.1 point differential. The Warriors have the best player in the league this season on the top of his game, terrific depth and spectacular defense, all of which were on full display in their 115-80 Game 3 rout of the Rockets.
[sc:NBA240banner ]League MVP Stephen Curry dropped 40 points on 12-of-19 shooting, including 7-of-9 from three-point range to break the record for most threes made in a single postseason. The Rockets simply had no answer for Curry, who is averaging 35.7 points while shooting 61 percent from the field and 58 percent from three (on over 10 attempts per game) in the series.
It also speaks to their depth that Klay Thompson and Harrison Barnes could go a combined 6-of-25 from the field and still win by 35. Draymond Green (17 points, 13 rebounds, five assists in Game 3) had his best game of the series, and Festus Ezeli came from nowhere to drop 10 points off the bench.
Meanwhile, their all-world defense finally put the clamps on James Harden. Head coach Steve Kerr made Barnes and Andre Iguodala the primary defenders on Harden, a change which turned Houston’s best player into an ineffective jump shooter. Harden shot 3-of-16 from the field in Game 3, and went just 1-of-9 when defended by those two. If the Warriors can limit Harden to similar numbers in Game 4, they should run away comfortable winners.
The Warriors have made the most out of their opportunities to close out their opposition during this postseason. They’ve won each of their two closeout games (both were on the road) against the Pelicans and Grizzlies by double digits, with Curry scoring over 30 points in both games.
The Warriors are 5-1 SU and 4-2 ATS in their last six road games.
Create a betting account now and close out the NBA conference finals with some big winnings.
Betting on the Houston Rockets
History says the Houston Rockets aren’t winning this series. Teams that have fallen 3-0 in an NBA playoff series are 0-116 all-time. But don’t think the Rockets will simply lie down to get swept. Remember, the last time they lost by 30-plus points (to the Clippers in Game 4) they came back to stave off elimination in Game 5 with a 21-point home win.
Harden had a disastrous Game 3 with just 17 points on 19 percent shooting, his worst game of these playoffs. Obviously, the Rockets need much better production from their star player in Game 4, which Harden is definitely capable of providing.
He had averaged 33 points on 59 percent shooting in the first two games of the series, and tallied a triple-double (26 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists) in their do-or-die Game 5 against the Clippers.
But the Rockets can only go so far if Harden doesn’t get significant help from his supporting cast. Jason Terry (6.7 points on 30 percent shooting) has been a non-factor in this series, while Trevor Ariza has totaled just 14 points in the last two games after exploding for 20 in Game 1. The Rockets as a team have shot just 29 percent from beyond the arc in the series.
The Rockets could also use one more super game from Dwight Howard. The All-Star center, who is still battling through an injured knee, had 14 points and 14 rebounds in Game 3 after going for 19 and 17 in Game 2.
The Rockets are 6-2 (5-3 against the spread) at home in the playoffs, but are 2-0 (SU and ATS) as home underdogs.
Writer’s Prediction
Curry and the Warriors (-5) have too much for the Rockets as they complete the sweep with a 105-96 win in Game 4.
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