Rockets vs. Warriors Predictions, Picks & Odds: NBA Playoffs Game 3, Today 4/26
Whether you’re a fan of either team or not, hopefully you were following us for our Game 2 Rockets vs. Warriors predictions, as we had Jalen Green going over 18.5 points (he had 38). Now, after a significant Jimmy Butler injury, the series now heads to Golden State for Game 3 tonight.
That means another best bet from our Rockets vs. Warriors picks AND a guaranteed Sleeper Fantasy promo code bonus!
Rockets vs. Warriors Predictions For Tonight NBA Playoffs Game 3, 4/26
Game 2 back on Wednesday night got a bit chippy, but with a series that includes Draymond Green, that was just par for the course. Similarly, we predicted a low-scoring series even back in Game 1, and that has continued to come to fruition.
Houston certainly improved in that department thanks to Jalen Green, but without Jimmy Butler for most of the game, the Warriors again failed to score 100 points. Those two stars stole the show when it comes to the storylines for both teams, and the Jimmy Butler injury is going to have a major impact on any Rockets vs. Warriors predictions for today.
With that in mind, we’re going to steer clear from needing either team to come out victorious or cover a point spread and instead put our focus on the player prop markets.
Houston Rockets: Jalen Green Seeing Gold
Ok, maybe it’s not the best color-to-color comparison, but everything that left Jalen Green’s hands on Wednesday was golden when taking on Golden State. While the most obvious reason for that was his 38 points, let’s not discount that they came along with six assists as well.
It was all field by a fast start, but there must have been some kind of Michael’s Secret Stuff in the halftime locker room as well. Jalen Green scoring 15 points in the first half helped Houston take a 14-point lead into the break, but even more impressive was Jalen Green scoring 15 points in the third quarter alone!
Golden State Warriors: Jimmy Butler Injury Update
While Rockets fans were over the moon about their superstar’s performance, Warriors fans were down in the dumps. No, not Stephen Curry only scoring 20 points - the Jimmy Butler injury. It happened in the first quarter, and while he got up to attempt his free throws, he never returned to court due to a pelvis contusion.
After undergoing an MRI the next day on Thursday, the very first thing that we “learned” was a cryptic message from Jimmy Butler’s agent. He said, “pray for the bear,” which is what Kobe Bryant said after tearing his Achilles. We’re not expecting that type of long-term injury, but his Jimmy Butler’s status for Game 3 is in "serious jeopardy.”
Rockets vs. Warriors Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines
Oddsmakers have expected Jimmy Butler to be available for Game 3 given that Golden State opened as 3.5-point favorites, and you can see the latest Rockets vs. Warriors odds below:
- Point Spread: Houston Rockets +2 (-110) vs. Golden State Warriors -2 (-110)
- Money Line: Houston Rockets (+120) vs. Golden State Warriors (-140)
- Game Total (Over/Under): Over 205.5 (-110) vs. Under 205.5 (-110)
Rockets vs. Warriors Best Bet: Stephen Curry Over 26.5 Points (Use His Player Card At PrizePicks Fantasy)
It’s been everywhere at this point, so this isn’t ground-breaking news, but the Warriors truly are night and day with and without Jimmy Butler. Prior to trading for him from the Miami Heat, Golden State was just 25-27, and since acquiring him, they’re 23-7.
That’s a win percentage of just .481 bumped up to .766, and with it now being time for playoff Jimmy, him not being 100% is a huge blow. Since that is no secret, let’s transition into the target of our best bet. With it sounding less and less likely that we’re going to be Butler-less, we’ve got Stephen Curry stepping up in a big way to help retake the series lead at home.
If this seems like a “square” play and you’re somehow still in the camp of, “those shots can’t possibly keep falling,” then it’s been a disappointing decade-plus. We’ve come to the realization that every shot is an open shot for Chef Curry, even against a stout Rockets defense.
The only aspect of this that we don’t like is that it has been slowly ticking up since more pessimism about Jimmy Butler has come out, but we still see a 30-point night in Curry’s future. After all, he scored 31 against Houston in Game 1, and now he’ll be back at Chase Center for Game 3.
We’re sticking with raw points rather than three-pointers in this case, but given that he’s made nine across the first two games of the series, the over 4.5 line could still be a part of your Rockets vs. Warriors picks.
Regardless, as for the best bet from our Rockets vs. Warriors predictions, we’re sticking with Stephen Curry over 26.5 points (add his projection to a PrizePicks lineup), Jimmy Butler in the lineup or not!
Rockets vs. Warriors Injury Report & Starting Lineups
Of course, the biggest Rockets vs. Warriors injury news is the biggest of the entire NBA - Jimmy Butler. You’ve seen our Jimmy Butler injury update already, and since it’s not sounding great at time of writing, here are the Rockets vs. Warriors expected lineups for tonight:
GS Warriors:
HOU Rockets:
- Fred VanVleet
- Jalen Green
- Amen Thompson
- Dillon Brooks
- Alperen Sengun
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Player News
Luguentz Dort came up big for the Thunder in their win over the Nuggets on Tuesday, finishing with 12 points (4-of-8 FGs), three rebounds, one assist and four three-pointers.
Well-known for his prowess on the defensive end, Dort’s offensive eruption in the fourth quarter helped the Thunder climb from out of a big hole to secure a come-from-behind win and move Oklahoma City one win closer to a trip to the conference finals. His three triples in the final frame were huge, but a late assist on a Jalen Williams three might have been the play that delivered the Thunder the victory. Dort’s double-digit outing marked his third of the series, and Oklahoma City would welcome another as it tries to close out the series on Thursday in Game 6.
Jalen Williams was impressive for the Thunder on Tuesday, posting 18 points (5-of-14 FGs, 6-8 FTs), nine rebounds, four assists, one steal and two three-pointers in the win over the Nuggets.
Williams landed in double figures in scoring for the fifth time in as many games this series. And while he continued to struggle with shooting efficiency, he remained impactful as a facilitator. The fourth-year wing also delivered one of the biggest shots of Game 5 as he sank a corner three-pointer late in the fourth quarter to give Oklahoma City a lead it wouldn’t surrender the rest of the way. Williams will continue to be relied upon when the Thunder head to Denver for a chance to close out the Nuggets in Game 6 on Thursday.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander tallied 31 points (12-of-23 FGs, 6-of-6 FTs), six rebounds, seven assists, two steals, two blocks and one three-pointer in the Thunder’s win over the Nuggets on Tuesday.
Gilgeous-Alexander did it all for the Thunder on Tuesday, taking on the roles of scorer and facilitator while remaining active on the defensive end along the way. Most importantly, he was key in the final handful of blows that Oklahoma City dealt Denver down the stretch in what ended up being a dominant 34-19 fourth quarter for the Thunder. Gilgeous-Alexander, an MVP finalist, delivered his third 30-point game of the series and will have a chance on Thursday to produce his fourth as the Thunder try to eliminate the Nuggets.
Max Strus shot 0-of-9 from the field in Tuesday’s Game 5 loss to the Pacers, going scoreless with seven rebounds and two assists in 26 minutes.
Game 5 was brutal for Strus, who missed all six of his three-point attempts and could not make a shot from the field overall. While he did grab seven rebounds, three more than fellow starter Jarrett Allen, the Cavaliers needed more offensive production from Strus. Due to offseason ankle surgery, Strus did not make his first appearance until just before Christmas, which put him in a difficult spot regarding fantasy value. While many managers did not expect much from Strus beyond offering late-round value, he finished outside the top-175 in eight- and nine-cat formats. Look for him again to be a late-round pick in most fantasy leagues.
Jarrett Allen accumulated nine points (4-of-6 FGs, 1-of-2 FTs), four rebounds and one steal in 30 minutes in Tuesday’s Game 5 loss to the Pacers.
After scoring 12 points or more in the first three games of this series, Allen was a shell of himself in Games 4 and 5. While more effective as a scorer in Game 5, the Cavaliers’ center’s impact was once again muted as the East’s top seed watched its season end. That’s an unfortunate conclusion for Allen, who matched his Yahoo! ADP (53) in nine-cat formats during the regular season, according to Basketball Monster. While he was a sixth-round player in eight-cat formats, Allen’s value taking a hit due to Evan Mobley’s emergence was unsurprising. He may not come off the board within the first 50 picks in most drafts next fall, but Allen should remain a dependable option for fantasy managers needing a center.
Evan Mobley logged 37 minutes in Tuesday’s Game 5 loss to the Pacers, scoring 24 points (8-of-12 FGs, 7-of-9 FTs) with 11 rebounds, one assist, two blocks and one three-pointer.
Recording his third double-double in four games, Mobley had his best performance of the series in Game 5. Unfortunately for him, it wasn’t good enough to force a Game 6, as Cleveland combined to shoot 9-of-35 from beyond the arc. A sprained ankle sidelined Mobley for Game 2, and the blown lead in that contest set the tone for the Cavaliers. Regarding fantasy basketball, the Cavaliers forward exceeded his Yahoo! ADP (38) in eight- and nine-cat formats, providing top-25 value in the latter. Mobley’s ADP should be considerably higher next fall as he continues establishing himself as one of the NBA’s top frontcourt players.