The Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets are set to meet for the third time in the 2024-25 NBA regular season. This time, though, something bigger is on the line, as they will be squaring off in an NBA Cup quarterfinals game. Will the Warriors continue their dominance of Houston? Or, will the Rockets advance to the next phase of the NBA Cup?

Catch this game live on Thursday, December 12, 2024 at 10:30 AM, Manila time

Away: Golden State Warriors (14-9/7-5 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Stephen Curry
  • Buddy Hield
  • Andrew Wiggins (Questionable )
  • Jonathan Kuminga
  • Draymond Green

The Warriors are still trying to regain their footing after a brutal stretch that saw them lose five games in a row. Since then, they have won two of three games, including last Monday’s 114-106 victory over Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves at home. This Thursday’s meeting against the Rockets will be Golden State’s first in a three-game road trip.

 One encouraging sign for the Warriors for this game is the fact that the Dubs already have a win at Toyota Center this season, having defeated Houston there early last November, 127-121. In that game. Moreover, the Warriors are 2-0 straight up this season against Houston despite missing Stephen Curry in both those contests. This time around, Curry will be available to play, while Andrew Wiggins is also expected to suit up even with a questionable label at the moment.

The Warriors are 8-2 against the spread in their last 10 games versus Houston, dating back to the 2021-22 NBA season. In addition, Golden State has won nine times in its last 10 visits to H-Town.

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Home: Houston Rockets (16-8/9-3 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Fred VanVleet
  • Jalen Green
  • Dillon Brooks
  • Jabari Smith Jr.
  • Alperen Sengun (Questionable)

The Rockets are also looking to establish more rhythm, as they look to win their second game in a row since a two-game losing skid. Following their losses to the Sacramento Kings (120-111) and the Warriors (99-93) last week, the Rockets prevented going winless in a recent road trip by taking down the Los Angeles Clippers in Inglewood on Monday, 117-106. Jalen Green fired 31 points with five 3-pointers in the Clippers game while Amen Thompson added 19 points. 

Green might have to do more heavy lifting this Thursday with Alperen Sengun in danger of missing action due to soreness in his left knee. Backup big man Steven Adams is also questionable, so the Rockets could be left very thin in the frontcourt. Meanwhile, there is a chance that Tari Eason could return to action in the Warriors game after missing two contests in concussion protocol. Eason had 27 points off the bench in the first meeting with Golden State this season.

The Rockets have gone 8-2 straight up in their last 10 home games. They have also covered the spread in eight of their last 10 games as the home team.

Picks

Spread: Houston Rockets (-2.0)

Over/Under: Over (222.0)

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