Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets NBA Picks & Predictions 5/14/2018

Monday, May 14, 2018

Toyota Center

Get todays NBA odds and lines on this game.

The Golden State Warriors travel to Toyota Center to play the Houston Rockets on Monday, May 14, 2018 in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. The Warriors are coming off a series win against New Orleans while Houston beat the Utah Jazz 4 games to 1. The opening line for this matchup has Houston as 2 point favorites.

The Warriors had a regular season record of 58-24. They were 1st in the Pacific Division. They currently had a point differential of 6.0 as they averaged 113.5 points per game while giving up 107.5 per contest. The Rockets had an overall mark of 65-17. They finished 1st in the Southwest Division. They totaled 112.4 points per contest and gave up 103.9, which is a point differential of 8.5.

Valuable Golden State Warriors Betting Trends

The Golden State Warriors are 38-51-3 against the spread

The Golden State Warriors are 45-46-0 against the over/under

Important Houston Rockets Betting Trends

The Houston Rockets are 47-43-2 against the spread

The Houston Rockets are 39-51-0 against the over/under

Key Golden State Warriors Injuries

05/08/18 G Patrick McCaw Back is out indefinitely

Key Houston Rockets Injuries

No key injuries to report

Player Spotlight

Klay Thompson averages 20 points per game in 34.3 minutes per contest this season. He averages 2.5 assists per contest and 3.8 rebounds per game for Golden State. His field goal percentage is 49% for the year while his free throw percentage is 84%. Kevin Durant comes into this contest averaging 26.4 points per game while playing 34.2 minutes per night so far this season for the Warriors. He pulls down 6.8 rebounds per game and dishes out 5.4 assists per game as well. His field goal percentage is 52% while his free throw percentage is currently at 89%.

Player Spotlight

James Harden averages 30.4 points per game this season and he sees the court an average of 35.4 minutes per contest. He also averages 5.4 rebounds per contest and 8.8 assists per game. His field goal percentage is 45% and his free throw percentage is 86%. Chris Paul averages 18.6 points per game while playing 31.8 minutes per contest this year for the Rockets. He grabs 5.4 rebounds per game and has 7.9 assists per contest on the year. His field goal percentage is 46% and his free throw percentage currently is at 92%.

Useful Team Statistics

The Warriors allow 107.5 points per game to their opponents which ranks them 18th in the league. They also allow a 45% shooting percentage and a 36% average from behind the arc, ranking them 3rd and 10th in those defensive categories. Opponents average 42.5 rebounds a game which ranks 8th, and they give up 23.6 assists per contest which puts them in 16th place in the league. They force 14.3 turnovers per game which ranks them 15th in the league. Golden State averages 113.5 points per contest this season, which ranks them 1st in the NBA. Their average scoring margin is 5.98 and their shooting percentage is 50% as a team, which has them ranked 1st. Behind the arc they shoot 39% which is good for 1st in the league. They average 43.5 rebounds per game and 29.3 assists per game, which ranks them 17th and 1st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they rank 5th with 15.5 per game.

Useful Team Statistics

The Rockets surrender 103.9 points per contest, which ranks them 7th in the NBA. Their defense is allowing a 46% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 15th and 7th in those defensive statistics. They rank 11th with 22.4 assists allowed per contest, and 4th with 42 rebounds surrendered per game. The Rockets are 21st in the NBA in forcing turnovers with 14.6 per game this season. Houston is 2nd in the league with 112.4 points per game this year. They are 15th in the league in shooting at 46%, while their average scoring margin is 8.48. They shoot 36% from 3-point range, which is good for 13th in the NBA. They are 18th in the league in rebounding with 43.5 boards per game and 26th in assists per contest with 21.5. The Rockets are 19th in turnovers per game with 13.8.

Advanced Statistics

The Warriors are 3rd in the NBA in offensive rating with 113.6, and their defensive rating of 107.7 is ranked 20th. In terms of pace they are 5th in the league with 99.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their effective field goal percentage of 57% is 1st. As a team they are 1st in the NBA in true shooting percentage with 60% and they shoot 3-pointers on 34% of their shots, ranking 15th in the league. Golden State is 3rd in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 14.1 times per 100 possessions while forcing 12.6 on the defensive end. Their defensive effective field goal percentage for the season currently is 50%, which is 26th in the league.

Advanced Statistics

Houston is 19th in the league in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.7 times per 100 possessions while forcing 13.4 on defense. Their defensive eFG% for the year currently is 52%, which is 18th in the NBA. The Rockets are 1st in the league in defensive rating with 106.1, and their offensive rating of 114.7 is ranked 25th. They are 13th in the NBA in pace with 97.6 possessions per 48 minutes, and their eFG% of 55% is 2nd. As a unit they are 2nd in the league in true shooting percentage with 59% and they shoot 3-pointers on 50% of their shot attempts, ranking 1st in the NBA.

Who will win tonight's NBA game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Golden State +2

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