This may be one of the best first round series on the 2025 NBA playoff slate. The Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets have a long playoff history and rivalry, which will continue this Sunday. The Warriors are bringing many familiar faces to this series, as Stephen Curry and Draymond Green will look to haunt Houston in the playoffs for the fifth time. On the other hand, Houston is bringing a fresh new squad for their first playoff appearance since 2020. We are going to take a look at the Warriors vs Rockets odds, key matchups, and make some predictions in our Warriors-Rockets series preview.
Warriors-Rockets Series Preview And Prediction
Old Heads Against the Up-and-Comers
This series is going to be a battle of experience and youth. The Warriors’ core has over a decade of playoff runs under their belt. Curry, Green, and the newly acquired Jimmy Butler are all looking to add to their trophy case before their Hall of Fame careers are through. They have experience on their side, but a late-season push just to make it into the playoffs has the old heads banged up and tired.
Alternatively, Houston is the new kid on the block. They are ahead of schedule on their most recent rebuild and had one of the surprise seasons in the league this year, grabbing the two seed in the hyper-competitive Western Conference. Although they do have some veterans with playoff experience like Fred VanVleet, the majority of their team hasn’t had any postseason battles under their belt.
Key Factors from the Warriors vs Rockets Series
This series could come down to a multitude of factors. However, there are a few key things to look at when determining who might win this series. The first one is how the Rockets plan to stop Curry. In their last meeting, they held Curry to just three points, guarding him with the long and athletic Amen Thompson. The Warriors and Curry are going to need to figure out how to overcome this matchup if they are going to have a decent chance at winning the series.
Another key factor is who gets minutes for the Warriors. The Warriors’ coaching staff has switched things up all season long when it comes to rotations. In their last two games, they’ve decided to bench their young forward Jonathan Kuminga. The Warriors are going to have to deal with the size and athleticism of the Rockets’ frontcourt somehow, and Kuminga could be the answer. Will he be ready to step up after getting benched in the Warriors’ biggest games of the year?
Warriors-Rockets Series Prediction
According to FanDuel SportsBook, the Warriors are -184 favorites in the series, despite being the lower seed (as of 4/17, 5 AM ET). The Rockets are +154 to win.
The Rockets are younger, bigger, and more athletic than the Warriors. However, there is no replacement for playoff experience. The Warriors may be physically outmatched by the Rockets, but luckily for them, the NBA playoffs aren’t a wrestling match. Expect the Warriors to outsmart the Rockets and win the series.
The Rockets will put up a good fight though. If their last win against the Warriors is any indication, they are going to win a few games in this series. Still, betting against Curry and Playoff Jimmy in the first round seems crazy. Warriors in six.
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