The Houston Rockets are 2-7 straight up and 3-6 against the spread in their last nine games on the road. To keep their hopes of an improbable comeback alive, the Rockets need a win in Golden State on Wednesday night against the Warriors.
Rockets vs. Warriors 2016 odds: Houston underdog at Golden State in must-win Game 5
The Houston Rockets face elimination on the road as 9.5-point underdogs against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.
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Houston is a 9.5-point road underdog in Game 5 according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark.com. The Rockets are 0-2 SU and ATS on the road in this series with losses in Game 1 and Game 2.
The Rockets had a golden opportunity to change the complexion of this series in Game 4 when Stephen Curry went down with a knee injury that forced him out for th-94e second half. But instead of evening the series up at two games apiece, the Rockets fell in a three-games-to-one hole in a 121-94 blowout loss.
With Warriors’ supporting cast dominating the second half without Curry and the series returning to Oakland, the situation looks dire for the Rockets.
Since losing two of three at home in early April, the Warriors have been dominant on their home court. The Warriors are 4-0 SU and ATS with an average margin of victory of 16.8 points per game in their last four home games per the OddsShark NBA Database.
In the long term, all eyes will be on the status of Stephen Curry as the star point guard’s status for the rest of the playoffs is in question because of a sprained MCL injury he suffered in Game 4.
But in the short term, the Warriors appear to be in good shape with a 3-1 series lead over the Rockets and a manageable matchup in the second round against the Portland Trail Blazers or the injury-hampered Los Angeles Clippers.
Golden State will try to close out this series at home, where it is 13-2 SU over its last 15 playoff games.
Wednesday’s total is set at 211.5 points on the NBA betting lines. The UNDER is 3-1 in this series and 15-3-2 in Golden State’s last 20 postseason home games.
If Golden State can carry the momentum of Game 4's second half into a quick start in Game 5, it may result in a blowout victory. But with their season officially on the line, James Harden and the Rockets have one more chance to stay alive.
