- What: NBA Western Conference Playoffs First Round Game 4
- When: April 28, 2025
- Who: Houston Rockets vs. Golden State Warriors
- Time: 6:30 p.m. PST
- Where: Chase Center (San Francisco, CA)
The first-round action of the 2025 NBA Playoffs heightens with a pivotal Game 4 showdown on Monday between the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets and the No. 7 seed Golden State Warriors, who currently lead the series 2-1.
The Warriors edged ahead in this series after a solid 104-93 win in Game 3. Led by a remarkable performance by Steph Curry, who scored 36 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and dished out nine assists.
Buddy Hield added a significant boost off the bench with 17 points, filling the gap left by Jimmy Butler.
As the Rockets prepare for Game 4 in San Francisco, they are determined to level the series and avoid a second consecutive loss.
Whether Butler is on the court or not, the Rockets will likely continue utilizing their double-big lineup featuring Şengün and Steven Adams.
This combination has proven effective during the regular season. The team contributes 30.9 points and 16.8 rebounds per 100 possessions more than its opponents.
The Rockets have to utilize different answers against this Warriors defense. Both top-performing five-man units, including Adams, have Şengün in the playoffs.
Their size has proven to be a challenge for the Warriors, who can only rely on hustle to mitigate this disadvantage. Butler’s minutes have been going to the shorter Payton instead.
If Butler plays, the Warriors should gain an advantage due to his defensive skills and the attention he draws away from Curry. This holds especially true at the Chase Center, where the Warriors had a strong 9-4 record after acquiring Butler.
However, his health remains uncertain, and the Rockets must make adjustments following their loss in what should have been a winnable game.
Relying on another elite Steph Curry performance to carry the Warriors over the Rockets feels like a reckless gamble by Steve Kerr. I think the Rockets bounce back and even this series at 2-2.
I’ll take the Rockets to upset the Warriors at plus money.
Best Bet: Rockets Money Line at +150 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.
