Rockets vs. Warriors Betting Line February 9
Carrie Stroup has your Rockets vs. Warriors betting line for Tuesday night. Golden State -14, Total: 230
HOUSTON ROCKETS (27-26) at GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS (46-4)
The Warriors will be looking to stay unbeaten on their home floor when they host the Rockets on Tuesday.
The Rockets are coming off of an embarrassing loss, falling 96-79 as five-point home favorites against the Blazers on Saturday. Houston shot a miserable 32.5% from the floor and turned the ball over 23 times in that game. If the Rockets do not come out and play a lot smarter on Tuesday then the Warriors will dismantle them on both ends of the floor.
Golden State enters this one on a nine-game winning streak and most recently defeated Oklahoma City 116-108 as a 7.5-point home favorite. The Warriors have shot 47% or better from the floor in each of their past nine games and their offense should have no problem scoring against the Rockets. It certainly hasn’t been an issue in two meetings this season, as Golden State is averaging 113.0 PPG in two victories over Houston. The Warriors covered in both of those victories and both happened to have been in Houston. Now the teams will play at Oracle Arena and the Warriors are 6-1 SU and 4-3 ATS when hosting the Rockets over the past three seasons.
One thing that could give Houston some confidence is the fact that the team is 17-6 ATS when playing on Tuesday nights over the past three seasons. The Warriors, however, are 8-1 ATS against Southwest division opponents on the season.
The news in Houston could get worse as the Rockets could be dealing with some significant injuries in this one, with SG James Harden (Hand) and PF Terrence Jones (Concussion) both listed as questionable.
The Rockets have not played like a playoff team recently and things could get bad against the Warriors on Tuesday, especially if SG James Harden (29.8 PPG, 7.0 APG, 6.3 RPG, 1.5 SPG) does not play. Harden is averaging 29.8 PPG, 8.2 APG, 7.0 RPG and 2.6 SPG over the past five games and it’ll be very difficult for Houston to make up that type of production against the best team in basketball. Harden will do everything he can to give it a go in this one, as this is a big game for the Rockets.
C Dwight Howard (14.2 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 1.5 BPG) will have to be ready to go in this one. If Harden does not play then the Rockets will be pounding the ball inside as much as Howard can handle. He is, however, facing a team that often downsizes and he could struggle to stay effective if the Warriors start to really push the pace.
One guy that must also show up for Houston is PF Josh Smith (6.3 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.0 BPG). Smith is the type of small ball forward that should be able to give Draymond Green some issues on both ends of the floor, but he’ll need to make good decisions in this game. He was held scoreless against the Blazers, going 0-for-4 from the field with a turnover in just nine minutes of action.
The Warriors are coming off of a big win over the Thunder on Saturday and PG Stephen Curry (29.8 PPG, 6.5 APG, 5.3 RPG, 2.2 SPG) continues to tear it up for Golden State. Curry was just 10-for-26 from the floor and 1-for-9 from the outside against Oklahoma City, but he still finished the game with 26 points, 10 assists, six boards and three steals. He also happens to still be shooting 43.4% from three over the past five games, which shows just how hot he was before an off game against the Thunder. Curry should be able to find his stroke against the Rockets in this game. In one meeting with the team this season, Curry had 25 points, seven boards and six assists in 27 minutes of action. He barely needed to play in the second half and the Warriors will be hoping that’s the case once again on Tuesday.
SG Klay Thompson (21.4 PPG) will be extremely important in this game, especially if Harden plays. Thompson is a lights out shooter from the outside, but he is also one of Golden State’s best wing defenders. He would have to be the guy that guards Harden on Tuesday and he will do his best to make the Rockets superstar take tough shots in this one.
C Draymond Green (14.4 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.4 SPG, 1.3 BPG) just may be the most important player for the Warriors in this one though. Green could see time guarding Dwight Howard with Ezeli out indefinitely for the team. He’d need to hold his own defensively and make Howard respect his jumper on offense. If he can pull the Rockets big man away from the basket then it’d really open things up for Golden State.
- Carrie Stroup, Gambling911.com Senior Reporter
