Game of the day: Rockets at Warriors by covers
Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors (-10.5, 215.5)
Warriors lead series 3-1
The Golden State Warriors take a second swipe at finishing off Houston when they host the suddenly torrid Rockets in Wednesday’s Game 5 of the Western Conference finals. Houston remained alive with a splendid 128-115 victory in Monday’s Game 4 that represents the most points Golden State has allowed all season.
The two teams combined for a postseason record 37 3-pointers – 20 by the Warriors – and Rockets guard James Harden rebounded from a poor Game 3 showing to record a game for the ages with a playoff-best 45 points and nine rebounds to keep Houston alive. “Our season comes down to winning one road game. That’s not going to be anything new,” Rockets coach Kevin McHale said at Tuesday’s press conference. “We’ve been in that situation before. We’ve just got to go in there and execute.” Golden State point guard Stephen Curry dodged a serious injury in Game 4 when his defensive attempt to stop Trevor Ariza saw him catapult over the Rockets forward before landing on the back of the head and being checked for a possible concussion before cleared to return. “That was the worst because you’re in the air for a long time,” Curry said in his postgame press conference. “And not knowing how you’re going to hit the floor, knowing that it’s going to happen, it’s inevitable but you’re up there just trying to brace yourself.”
TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN
LINE HISTORY: There hasn't been any movement off the Golden State -10.5 number as of this writing.
INJURY REPORT: Rockets - C Dwight Howard (Ques-Poss. Suspension) Warriors - G Steph Curry (Prob-Head), C Ognjen Kuzmic (Ques-Ankle)
WHAT CAPPERS SAY: "Houston responded exceptionally well in Game 4 after losing Game 3 by 35 points (115-80). The Rockets’ offense played their best game of the series as they scored 128 points on 56.6% (43-76) shooting from the field and 53.1% (17-32) shooting from three-point land. With the series now going back to Golden State, I do not expect Houston’s offense to repeat that effort, especially since the Warriors have the #1 defense in efficiency metrics."
WHAT BOOKS SAY: "We opened the Warriors as 10-point favorites on their home court and are seeing solid two way action at the number at the time of writing this. With 59 percent of the action coming in on the Rockets to cover the +10. The money line is where we are seeing an overwhelming amount of early Rockets money with the Rockets getting over 90 percent of that action." Michael Stewart, CarbonSports.ag.
ABOUT THE ROCKETS: Harden made seven 3-pointers in an effort that tied for third-most in Houston playoff history with legendary Hakeem Olajuwon having performances of 49, 46 and 45 points. He scored 33 points in the second half as the Rockets rediscovered an offense that tallied just 80 points in a demoralizing Game 3 loss. “We got after them and we’ve got to get after them again,” McHale told reporters. “We’ve got to attack them, we’ve got to play our style of basketball. If the ball moves from player to player, the more willingly and the more rapidly and harder and quicker, it’s harder to guard.”
ABOUT THE WARRIORS: Golden State coach Steve Kerr defended club trainers and doctors who cleared Curry to return to action and made it clear the league MVP was also insisting that he was fine. “As long as Steph says he’s good to go and the doctors told me he’s cleared, then I’m going to listen to that,” Kerr said in Tuesday’s press conference. “They’re the ones who are paid to do that, not me.” Curry scored 23 points despite playing just 31 minutes while slumping shooting guard Klay Thompson showed life by making six 3-pointers and scoring a personal series-best 24 points.
TRENDS:
*Underdog is 4-0 ATS in the last 4 meetings.
*Warriors are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 home games.
*Over is 4-1 in Rockets last 5 games after scoring more than 125 points in their previous game.
*Under is 9-2 in Warriors last 11 overall.
COVERS CONSENSUS: Per Covers Consensus, a whopping 71 percent of bets are being placed on the underdog Rockets.