Rockets vs. Warriors Prediction: Game 3 Odds, Expert Picks & NBA Playoff Preview
Game 2 of this NBA playoffs series certainly didn't go as the road team had hoped, with Golden State suffering a massive injury blow early in the contest. Now our Rockets vs. Warriors prediction looks at how Jimmy Butler's likely absence will impact Game 3.
Following a 10-point win for the Warriors in Game 1, most NBA picks had them taking a 2-0 lead back home to Chase Center for this third contest. However, this game will tip off at 8:30 p.m. ET (ABC) on Saturday with the series tied 1-1.
Despite Butler almost definitely missing this game, the Warriors serve as -2.5 favorites to retake the series lead. But do Steph Curry and Co. hold enough firepower to overcome that absence?
📡 How to watch Rockets vs. Warriors live (Game 3)
📅 Saturday, April 26
🕗 8:30 p.m. ET
📍 Chase Center (San Francisco)
📺 ABC | 🛜 ESPN+
💡 Rockets vs. Warriors expert picks for Game 3
✅ Against the spread pick: Rockets +2.5 (-110 via BetMGM) ⭐⭐⭐
✅ Moneyline pick: Rockets (+120 via bet365) ⭐⭐⭐
✅ Over/Under pick: Over 203 (-112 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐
🎯 Rockets vs. Warriors Game 3 prediction
Score prediction: Rockets 108, Warriors 102
🏀 Game 3 preview & best bet
I simply can't overstate how much the Warriors will miss Butler in this one. The NBA playoffs were precisely why Golden State traded for him ahead of the deadline, and the veteran showed why he's known for stepping up in the postseason when Butler dropped 25 points while snatching five steals in Game 1.
Game 2 was played at a very different style with Butler out. The pace of the game was cranked way up, Curry shot just 40% from the floor with the defense smothering him, and Jalen Green exploded for 38 points.
Sure, this series is now heading to Chase Center, where the Warriors faithful have won plenty of games for their team with the fans' unmatched energy. However, those Warriors teams were also infinitely more talented than this one.
Pinnacle, which is widely considered the sharpest of the best sports betting sites, opened with the Rockets priced at +144 on the moneyline. That book has moved nearly 30 points to +115 now. We've seen similar movement across all of the best NBA betting sites, so bet this before Butler is officially ruled out and the Rockets potentially become the favorites.
✅ Best bet: Rockets ML (+120 via bet365)
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🔥 Draymond Green Under 5.5 assists ⭐⭐⭐
Green has yet to come close to this assists total in either contest. But Game 2 was especially bad, as he managed only one dime.
Sure, Green averaged 5.6 assists for the season and has the passing ability to get around seven or eight in any game. But I'm not sure the offensive talent is around him to get there in this matchup.
Despite this series being tied 1-1, the Warriors have yet to clear 95 points in either contest. And based on the total and spread for this game, our best sports betting apps expect them to finish with just more than 100 on Saturday night.
Unless Golden State plays a drastically different style of basketball than the Warriors have in these first two games - during which Green didn't eclipse a 20% usage rate even with Butler sidelined - I have a very hard time seeing how he'll rack up six-plus assists.
✅ Best odds: -140 via bet365 ($10 to win $7.14)
🚀 Best same-game parlay (SGP) for Rockets vs. Warriors
🧪 Want to build your own SGP? Use our parlay calculator to find the best odds for any same-game parlay.
📈 Rockets vs. Warriors odds for Game 3
Live updated odds from our best sports betting sites.
🪧 Game 3 opening odds
Opening odds via BetMGM.
- Spread: Rockets +3.5 (-110) | Warriors -3.5 (-110)
- Moneyline: Rockets (+135) | Warriors (-161)
- Over/Under: Over 202.5 (-110) | Under 202.5 (-110)
🚑 Rockets vs. Warriors injury report for Game 3
Follow the official NBA injury report for more injury news.
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💵 Best NBA betting sites
Ready to bet on the NBA playoffs? Check out the best NBA betting sites and best sportsbook promos for today's games:
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