The Houston Rockets and the Golden State Warriors meet for the second time this season. Stephen Curry is out for this contest, but that shouldn’t take away much from the excitement of this intriguing battle in San Francisco. Will the Rockets go 2-0 this season against the Dubs? Or, will Golden State snap their skid for their first win in December?

Catch this game live on Friday, December 5, 2024 at 11:00 AM, Manila time

Away: Houston Rockets (15-7/6-4 Away)

Projected Starting Five:

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

The Rockets took a stumble in their last game, losing to the Sacramento Kings on the road on Wednesday, 120-111. It was the first loss in four games for Houston, which has yet to lose in consecutive games in the 2024-25 NBA regular season. Houston currently has star point guard Fred VanVleet labeled questionable for the Warriors, Amen Thompson could potentially get a start and see increased minutes. Thompson had a solid performance against the Warriors early last November, as he scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, albeit in a 127-121 overtime loss. It is also important to note that Tari Eason has been ruled out for Friday’s Warriors game due to a concussion. 

Eason fired 27 points in the loss to Golden State, so his absence can be felt by the Rockets. Nevertheless, Houston has enough healthy weapons to get back on track. The 1-2 combo of Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun just had 28 and 24 points, respectively, against the Kings. Houston’s elite defense can breathe a little against the Warriors, who are missing Stephen Curry and Draymond Green. On the season, the Rockets are tops in the league with a defensive 50.1 effective field goal percentage and third with 107.0 points allowed per game.

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Home: Golden State Warriors (12-8/5-3 Home)

Projected Starting Five:

  • Brandin Podziemski
  • Buddy Hield
  • Andrew Wiggins (Questionable)
  • Jonathan Kuminga
  • Trayce Jackson-Davis

The Warriors are on a downward spiral, having lost four games in a row. They are coming off a 119-115 beatdown at the hands of the Denver Nuggets on the road last Wednesday. Before that, the Dubs got crushed in a 113-105 Sunday loss in The Valley to the Phoenix Suns. It appears things could get harder for Golden State, with Curry and Green ruled out for the Houston rematch. Curry is on a bilateral knee injury management while Green is dealing with left calf tightness. 

For what it’s worth, the Warriors won the first meeting with Houston without Curry. The duo of Jonathan Kuminga and Buddy Hield led the way for the Dubs in that game, as they scored 23 and 27 points off the bench, respectively. With Curry and Green out, Kuminga and Hield could potentially get starting nods this Friday for the Warriors, who are 3-2-1 against the spread in their last six regular-season home games versus the Rockets.

Picks

Spread: Golden State Warriors (-3.5)

Over/Under: Over (221.5)

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