NBA Western Conference Finals Game 2 Betting Preview: Golden St. Warriors at Houston Rockets

Golden State at Houston – Game 2
Warriors Lead 1-0
Time: 8 PM CT (TNT)
Spread: HOU -1.5
Total: 224.5

Odds c/o 5dimes

Here at Maddux Sports, we hinted that Kevin Durant would be the difference-maker in this series. After his 37-point Game 1, which the Golden State Warriors won, disagreeing with that notion is difficult at least. Can the Houston Rockets find a way to slow Durant, and never mind that, but is Klay Thompson on the verge of also having the series of his life?

Game 2 tips off at 8 PM (Central) on TNT, with the Rockets still (somehow) listed as 1.5-point favorites despite its loss. The over/under is set at 224.5 points, and Game 1 saw a point total of 225 points.

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The Warriors switched its starting lineup for Game 1, which required some adjustment on the part of Mike D’Antoni. Known as it’s “Death Lineup” the Warriors began the game with the 6-foot-7 Draymond Green at the 5-spot, sliding Andre Iguodala in at small forward to move Durant to the 4.

That meant Houston instead sent PJ Tucker at Durant, and by and large, Tucker was entirely ineffective at slowing or bothering Durant. The two-time MVP hit 14 of 27 from the field en route to 37 points and a +11 mark for his 40 minutes of play. Thompson also was huge in the game, hitting 9 of 18 from the floor, and he connected on 6 of 15 from three-point range while also coming up with some key defensive plays.

Houston’s backcourt was predictably great, but it just was not enough. Chris Paul and James Harden combined for 64 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists while shooting a collective 22 of 41 from the field, but outside of that star tandem, the Rockets got little help. The supporting cast shot just 17 of 44 from the field, and only Eric Gordon reached double-figures.

Gordon scored 15 off the bench on 6 of 13 shooting, but his defense was suspect, and only Gerald Green scored outside of his 15. Green was 2 of 5 from the floor for six points, but picked up four fouls in 17 minutes and was negative-9 for his 17 minutes. Indeed, the Rockets were outclassed badly in the second half, after entering intermission with the score tied 56-56.

Golden State simply came out stronger and more aggressive in the second half, and won this game despite Stephen Curry performing mediocre (at least by his standards). As Curry continues to round into shape, this series should shift more heavily still in Golden State’s favor, and we fully expect the Warriors to both cover the spread and win the game SU. The Dubs may be outclassed in the backcourt, as hinted in the series preview, but its handy advantage with Durant is too much to overcome.

The team was already nearly unbeatable while starting Harrison Barnes at small forward, and upgrading to a league MVP has made the Dubs altogether too unstoppable, simply.

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ATS TRENDS

Golden State
  • Warriors are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 Conference Finals games.
  • Warriors are 43-21-3 ATS in their last 67 Wednesday games.
  • Warriors are 8-17 ATS in their last 25 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
  • Warriors are 8-17 ATS in their last 25 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
  • Warriors are 9-21 ATS in their last 30 games vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
  • Warriors are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
  • Warriors are 7-19-1 ATS in their last 27 games following a ATS win.
  • Warriors are 4-11 ATS in their last 15 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
  • Warriors are 5-15 ATS in their last 20 games following a straight up win.
  • Warriors are 6-19-1 ATS in their last 26 games following a straight up win of more than 10 points.
  • Warriors are 4-14 ATS in their last 18 games playing on 1 days rest.
Houston
  • Rockets are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
  • Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
  • Rockets are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
  • Rockets are 11-4-1 ATS in their last 16 Wednesday games.
  • Rockets are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
  • Rockets are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
  • Rockets are 6-18 ATS in their last 24 vs. NBA Pacific.
  • Rockets are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.

OU TRENDS

Golden State
  • Under is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 overall.
  • Under is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 road games.
  • Under is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
  • Under is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 vs. Western Conference.
  • Under is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 vs. NBA Southwest.
  • Under is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 road games vs. a team with a home winning % of greater than .600.
  • Under is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 when their opponent allows 100 points or more in their previous game.
  • Under is 4-0 in Warriors last 4 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
  • Under is 4-1 in Warriors last 5 games playing on 1 days rest.
  • Over is 4-1 in Warriors last 5 Conference Finals games.
  • Under is 19-6-1 in Warriors last 26 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
  • Under is 5-2 in Warriors last 7 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
  • Under is 17-8 in Warriors last 25 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
Houston
  • Under is 4-0 in Rockets last 4 games vs. a team with a winning % above .600.
  • Under is 11-0 in Rockets last 11 vs. NBA Pacific.
  • Under is 7-1 in Rockets last 8 games following a ATS loss.
  • Under is 5-1 in Rockets last 6 Conference Finals games.
  • Under is 5-1 in Rockets last 6 vs. a team with a winning straight up record.
  • Under is 9-2 in Rockets last 11 when their opponent scores 100 points or more in their previous game.
  • Under is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
  • Under is 6-2 in Rockets last 8 games following a straight up loss.
  • Under is 6-2 in Rockets last 8 after allowing 100 points or more in their previous game.
  • Over is 6-2 in Rockets last 8 games following a straight up loss of more than 10 points.
  • Under is 30-11 in Rockets last 41 vs. Western Conference.
  • Under is 5-2 in Rockets last 7 Wednesday games.
  • Under is 15-6 in Rockets last 21 home games.
  • Under is 12-5 in Rockets last 17 games playing on 1 days rest.
  • Under is 19-8 in Rockets last 27 after scoring 100 points or more in their previous game.
  • Under is 11-5 in Rockets last 16 home games vs. a team with a road winning % of greater than .600.
  • Over is 15-7 in Rockets last 22 games following a double-digit loss at home.
  • Under is 36-17 in Rockets last 53 overall.

HEAD TO HEAD

  • Under is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings in Houston.
  • Warriors are 5-1 ATS in the last 6 meetings in Houston.
  • Under is 8-3 in the last 11 meetings.
  • Warriors are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings.
  • Road team is 6-2 ATS in the last 8 meetings.
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