Warriors vs. Rockets predictions, picks odds for 2025 NBA playoff series
The 2025 NBA Playoffs have arrived, and in the Western Conference, the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets will face the No. 7 seed Golden State Warriors in a best-of-seven first round series.
The Warriors defeated the Memphis Grizzlies 121-116 to clinch one of the final spots in the NBA Playoffs. Jimmy Butler led the way for the Warriors with 38 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, while Stephen Curry contributed 37 points in the Play-In Tournament victory.
The Warriors will now face the second-seeded Rockets, who are coming off a strong 2023-24 season and are right behind the dominant Oklahoma City Thunder. The Rockets are led by Jalen Green, who has averaged 21 points per game. He has also received significant support from Defensive Player of the Year contender Amen Thompson, who averages 14.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game.
Here is the schedule, predictions and current odds for the Warriors vs. Rockets in the first round of the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
Warriors vs. Rockets: NBA playoffs picks and predictions
Paste BN: Three out of four experts pick the Rockets
Here are Paste BN staff picks for the Warriors-Rockets series:
- Lorenzo Reyes: Rockets in five
- Heather Tucker: Rockets in six
- James Williams: Rockets in seven
- Jeff Zillgitt: Warriors in seven
NBA.com: Warriors in six
John Schuhmann writes: "Any of the four teams on this side of the Western Conference bracket could realistically reach the conference finals, and two of them will be extremely disappointed when they lose in the first round. The Rockets are, objectively, the better team in this series, having ranked higher than the Warriors on both ends of the floor. But the Warriors have the core that’s been here before, and they’ve also been one of the league’s best road teams. The Rockets will make this a physical, ugly series; the two teams combined to score just a point per possession over their last four meetings. But in the end, Golden State should be just a little more potent offensively."
Sports Illustrated: Warriors in 7
Peter Dewey writes: " I think that oddsmakers are being a little disrespectful to what Houston has done, and Ime Udoka’s coaching experience, with the odds for this series. Golden State having better odds to win in five than nearly every other outcome is a bit too much for my liking. That being said, I think this Houston team is a piece – and a season – away from contention. Down the stretch of games, I keep wondering what the Rockets will do offensively in the half court, and if they’ll get enough scoring to hold off Curry and Butler. Ultimately, I’m going to side with the two players who have been there many times before. Golden State takes this series, but it’s going to go the distance."
Warriors vs. Rockets: NBA playoffs odds
The Rockets are favored to defeat the Warriors in the NBA playoffs, per BetMGM odds (as of Saturday, April 19):
- Series winner: Rockets (+140), Warriors (-165)
- Game 1 Spread: Rockets (-1.5)
- Game 1 Moneyline: Rockets (-118); Warriors (+102)
- Game 1 Over/Under: 212.5
Warriors vs. Rockets: NBA playoffs schedule, how to watch, time, TV channel, streaming
The first-round NBA playoff series between the Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets will begin Sunday, April 20, continuing through at least Sunday, May 4.
ABC, ESPN, and TNT will each carry at least one game of the series, while details for games five through seven (should they be necessary) have yet to be announced. Cord-cutting fans can stream the action on Sling for games on TNT and Fubo for those on ABC. Fubo is offering a free trial for new subscribers.
All times Eastern.
- Game 1: Warriors at Rockets | Sunday, April 12 | 9:30 p.m | TNT, Sling TV
- Game 2: Warriors at Rockets | Wednesday, April 23 | 9:30 p.m | TNT, Sling TV
- Game 3: Rockets at Warriors | Saturday, April 26 | 8:30 p.m. | ABC, Fubo
- Game 4: Rockets at Warriors | Monday, April 28 | 10 p.m. | TNT, Sling TV
- Game 5: Warriors at Rockets | Wednesday, April 30 | time/broadcast TBD*
- Game 6: Rockets at Warriors | Friday, May 2 | time/broadcast TBD*
- Game 7: Warriors at Rockets | Sunday, May 4 | time/broadcast TBD*
Watch the entire Warriors vs. Rockets series on Fubo