NBA Predictions: Do Rockets have shot at upset win over Warriors? 1/20/18

Warriors vs. Rockets Pick

Are the Houston Rockets primed for a home upset over the powerful Golden State Warriors tonight at 8:30PM ET?

Who Oddsmakers Like: Golden State. According to oddsmakers at Bovada.lv, the Warriors are listed as a 4.5-point favorite on the spread line. The total is set at 234 points. Golden State opened as a 3.5-point fave, while the over-under has remained steady at 234.

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Who the Public Likes: Golden State. As of Saturday morning, 74 percent of public bets have come in on the Warriors.

Injury Report: Warriors forward Draymond Green missed the last game due to shoulder soreness, but is probably to play tonight. Andre Iguodala missed the last game with a calf contusion and is questionable. Jordan Bell has ankle inflammation and will be evaluated in early February. For the Rockets, Troy Williams has been out with a sprained MCL and is questionable for tonight. Zhou Qi has missed the last three games with an elbow injury and is questionable. Trevor Ariza and Gerald Green have both served one game of a two-game suspension for a post-game incident earlier this week and will be out again tonight. 

Who the Trends Like: Golden State is 4-0 ATS in its last four games in Houston and 4-1 ATS in the last five meetings overall. The under is 4-1 in the last five games in Houston.

Who We Like: Houston struggled with James Harden out of the lineup, but in his first game back his presence helped lift the Rockets to a 116-98 home victory Thursday night over the Timberwolves. Expect Harden to be sharper and play more than the 26 minutes he did the other night. Even with Ariza out of the lineup and Green to a much lesser extent, I believe Houston will get the cover here on its home floor. While the Warriors did get the best of the Jan. 4 meeting in Houston by a count of 124-114, the Rockets did secure a 122-121 at the Oracle in the season opener on Oct. 17. Houston has the confidence it can take down Golden State and I believe it happens here.

 

NBA DAILY PREDICTION: HOUSTON ROCKETS +4.5