Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets: Picks, Predictions, Odds and Player Props

Golden State has recent history on its side and can win in Houston to seal a place in this weekend's NBA Cup semifinals.

Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets betting picks and predictions

Golden State Warriors ML (+110)

Head-to-heads tell you the Warriors would rather play the Rockets than anyone else right now and can use that psychological edge to help them on Wednesday.

Since the Warriors lost at home to Houston in February 2020 these teams have played each other 15 times, all in the regular season, and Golden State has won the lot.

That 15-0 streak culminated in an overtime win in Houston on November 2 and last Thursday's 99-93 Chase Center, a win secured minus the services of both Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. Curry had also missed the first match.

Both returned in a 114-106 home win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday. Curry tallied a game-high 30 points with eight assists, while Green added six points, six rebounds and seven assists.

Houston (16-8) are slight favorites against their 14-9 rivals with the spread set at two points. The Rockets are 16-8 against the spread, the Warriors 13-9-1.

The Rockets are strong at home and coming off a 117-106 win in LA against the Clippers, where all of their starters scored double digits, Jalen Green leading the offense with 31 points.

Both teams are ranked in the top six in the league defensively but are struggling to shoot the ball - they are in the bottom 10 in field goal percentage.

To that end, don't be surprised if it is a low scorer though the return of Curry, who leads the Dubs in scoring with 23 points, gives the visitors an offensive edge.

The winning team heads to Las Vegas on Saturday night to play the Oklahoma City Thunder in the West semifinal.

Fred VanVleet Under 17.5 points (-120)

Veteran guard Fred VanVleet is expected to return from a knee injury after missing Sunday's 117-106 road win over the Clippers.

That's a major plus for Houston who are a much better offensive unit with VanVleet in the team.

He averages 16 points and 5.9 assists though against the Warriors last week in that 99-93 loss his numbers were down, draining just 13 points.

The Dubs defensively are right up there with the best and they will ask questions of Houston as an offensive force. They will certainly ask questions of VanVleet, whose points mark of 17.5 is probably too high in what should be a relatively low-scoring duel.

Buddy Hield Over 2.5 rebounds (-125)

Second guessing Steve Kerr's starting five is a challenge in itself - the Warriors' coach used 27 different combos last season and this season may well trump that such has been the impact of injuries.

Only three players have appeared in all 23 games, one of those being Buddy Hield who will make it 24 and is slated to start in Houston.

Hield made his second start in three games in the win over the Timberwolves at the weekend, pouring in 27 points and taking down five rebounds.

A famed three-point shooter - Hield is one shy of reaching 2,000 career threes - he is also averaging 3.5 rebounds so his rebounds look cheap at 2.5.

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Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets odds

Houston Rockets	-130 ML
Golden State Warriors	+110 ML
Spread	HOU -2
Total Points	O/U 222.0

Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets player props

Player Points

Dillon Brooks (HOU)	O 12.5 -120
Fred VanVleet (HOU)	O 17.5 -105
Jalen Green (HOU)	O 19.5 -110
Stephen Curry (GS)	O 24.5 -110
Draymond Green (GS)	O 7.5 -125
Buddy Hield (GS)	O 11.5 +105

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.