- What: NBA Western Conference Playoffs First Round Game 1
- When: April 20, 2025
- Who: Golden State Warriors vs. Houston Rockets
- Time: 6:30 p.m. PST
- Where: Toyota Center (Houston, TX)
The seventh-seeded Golden State Warriors will face the second-seeded Houston Rockets in the opening game of a best-of-seven first-round playoff series this Sunday.
The matchup will occur at the Toyota Center in Houston, starting at 6:30 p.m. PST.
The Warriors edged out the Rockets in the regular-season series with a 3-2 record. Golden State wrapped up the regular season on a high note, winning 7 out of their last 10 games.
They narrowly defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 in the Play-In Tournament on Tuesday, earning the No. 7 seed, but did not cover the spread as 6.5-point favorites on their home court.
The Warriors posted a 6-4 record against the spread (ATS) in their last 10 games, bringing their overall season total to 41-37-3 ATS.
Despite finishing 16 games behind the top-seeded Thunder, the Rockets secured the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, boasting an impressive 29-12 record at home.
However, they had a rough finish, losing their last three games and four of their final seven. The Rockets also struggled against the spread, going 4-8 over their last 12 games and finishing the season at 42-38-2 ATS.
The Warriors are a solid choice here. They have been one of the best ATS teams on the road this season, finishing fourth in the NBA with a 23-16-2 record on the road. The size of the spread could be a significant factor.
The Rockets have shown vulnerability late in the season, especially defensively, allowing 126 or more points in each of their last three games.
They have only managed a 2-4 record against the spread in their last six games as favorites. Houston may be at a disadvantage early on as the battle-tested Warriors come into this matchup after a week off.
I’ll take the Warriors to win this one and get off to an early 1-0 series lead over the Rockets.
Best Bet: Warriors Money Line at -105 odds
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Tony Reyes is a sports betting analyst and reporter for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X @TonyParlay.
