The second-round series between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets was supposed to be an epic battle – and it has been. But it could also be a very short series now that the Warriors have won the first two games at home. Game 3 is this Saturday in Houston, starting at 8:30 PM ET on ABC.
The Rockets almost covered both games in Oakland. They lost Sunday’s opener 104-100 as 6-point underdogs, then couldn’t quite hold on in Game 2 on Tuesday, falling 115-109 at +5.5. Odds for Game 3 have the Rockets rebounding as 3.5-point favorites. After Tuesday’s win, Golden State’s title odds improved from –150 to –185, while Houston’s dropped from +650 to +1000.
The physical nature of this series has taken a toll on both teams – especially the Rockets, who lost James Harden for several crucial minutes in Game 2 after he was hit in the face, perhaps inadvertently, by Draymond Green. Harden had trouble with his vision once he returned to the court, but finished the game and doesn’t appear to be in danger of missing Saturday’s contest. Stephen Curry is also expected to play for the Warriors after dislocating a finger on his non-shooting hand.
