NBA

Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors 5/26/18 Prediction & Spread

Cavs vs Warriors

The Golden State Warriors face elimination from the Western Conference Finals on Saturday night. Will the Warriors not only avoid elimination but also cover the spread? Tip-off between Golden State and the Houston Rockets is set for 9:00 p.m. ET.

Game Snapshot

(509) Houston Rockets at (510) Golden State Warriors

Saturday, May 26, 9:00 p.m. ET

TV: TNT

Public Betting Information

After opening as a 10.5-point favorite, the Warriors are now -12.5 to beat the Rockets tonight. The total, meanwhile, sits at 212.5 points, down a full point from 213.5. As of this writing, 65% of betting tickets wagered at online sportsbooks are on the Rockets to cover the spread.

Rockets’ Paul will not play Game 6 due to injury

Chris Paul will not play in Game 6 on Saturday against Golden State due to a right hamstring strain. CP3 tweaked his right hamstring late in the fourth quarter of Game 5 on Thursday. He’ll be re-evaluated again once the team returns to Houston, but this is not the news that the Rockets wanted to hear.

Eric Gordon will have to step up on the offensive end in a major way, which he’s shown he can do. This season when Paul and James Harden were sitting, Gordon averaged 34.6 points and 6.5 assists per 40 minutes. He played 36 minutes in Game 5, his most of this postseason. Expect somewhere around there again in Game 6.

Warriors’ Iguodala questionable for Game 6

Andre Iguodala (left leg) is listed as questionable for Game 6 against Houston on Saturday. Iggy’s already missed the last two games and could potentially miss Game 6 as well, which is not good news for Golden State.

The Warriors play better with him, especially against the Rockets. If he does miss Game 6, expect Kevon Looney to remain in the starting role. We’ll know more tomorrow as game-time approaches.

Betting Trends

Houston

The Rockets have covered the spread in four of their last five road games. They are also 7-1 at the betting window in their last eight games playing on one day of rest.

Golden State

The Warriors are 4-9 against the spread in their last 13 home games. They have also failed to cover the spread in 17 of their last 21 games playing on only one day of rest.

Our Prediction

I honestly don’t know what the Warriors are doing. When they’re at their best, they’re whipping the ball around the court at a frantic pace and not missing shots. What we saw in Game 5 and earlier in the series (Game 2) is that they’re going more isolation with Kevin Durant. I don’t get it, and the strategy has backfired to the point where Golden State now faces elimination.

That said, what has this series taught us thus far? It’s that the team that is most desperate has wound up covering. The Warriors have looked befuddled in their last two games in the closing minutes. That’s likely because they’re used to blowing most opponents out. Tonight, without Paul in the lineup for the Rockets, I see the Warriors winning comfortably and getting back to their identity.

NBA Prediction: Golden State Warriors -12.5

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