The Golden State Warriors can take a 3-1 lead in their best-of-seven opening-round NBA series Monday when they host the Houston Rockets in game four at Chase Center.
Over the weekend, the Warriors reclaimed the series lead, thanks to a 104-93 triumph in game three against Houston in Oakland.
Match preview
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Some nice adjustments in the paint and on the glass turned this opening round series back in the favour of Golden State on Saturday.
As a team they had 14 fewer rebounds than Houston in game two, but on Saturday only had six fewer, while outscoring them 44-38 in the paint after losing that battle 44-28 in their previous outing.
Golden State had nine steals and made 80% of their free throws in game three, a big improvement from game two when they shot just 61.1% from the line, as Steve Kerr surpassed Larry Brown for playoff coaching wins, picking up his 101st this weekend.
When this team are at their optimal, the ball is moving around seamlessly with so many people contributing, and the Warriors had 26 assists in Game 3, the most for them in a single game in the series so far.
They have advanced in their last 14 playoff series' when winning two of the opening three games and have triumphed in two of their last three game four post-season affairs.
The Warriors have won their last five home playoff contests against the Rockets, holding them to 100 points or fewer on three of those occasions.
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It is back to the drawing board for Ime Udoka, as his Rockets could not maintain their momentum from game two despite a strong opening quarter.
Udoka did not get much out of his reserves Saturday as the Rockets bench were outscored 42-28 by the Warriors' second-teamers.
Houston struggled from the line throughout game three as well, with a free-throw percentage of 58.3, while they did not help themselves by turning the ball over 14 times.
It is not how you start but how you finish, and Houston have learned that the hard way in this series, leading in every game after the opening quarter, while being outscored in quarter number four each time.
A normally strong defensive unit have not been as sharp away from home, allowing over 100 points in three straight road fixtures dating back to the regular season, conceding 134 and 140 points to the Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers, respectively.
In three of their previous four game four playoff affairs the Rockets wound up on the losing end, while they have won just one of their last 10 road contests in the post-season.
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Team News
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Defensive specialist Jimmy Butler missed game three for the Warriors with a left pelvic contusion, while Gary Payton II played 21 minutes despite previously sustaining a right shoulder strain, scoring 16 points.
Steph Curry was brilliant once again, putting up 36 points, surpassing Tony Parker for the 10th-most points in NBA playoff history (4,037), while Quinten Post grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds and Buddy Hield chipped in with 17 points off the bench.
Due to a right ankle injury, Jae'Sean Tate was unavailable for the Rockets in game three, while Jock Landale sat out because of a right knee contusion.
Fred VanVleet led Houston with 17 points, with Alperen Sengun adding 15 and Dillon Brooks scoring 13 while going three for four from three-point land.
Golden State Warriors possible starting five:
Curry, Podziemski; Kuminga, D. Green; Post
Houston Rockets possible starting five:
Ja. Green, VanVleet; Thompson, Brooks; Sengun
We say: Warriors to win by 6+ points
Curry is showing no signs of fatigue even at 37, and his shooting alone has been enough to put the Warriors ahead in this series, even without Butler.
The Rockets' size should enable them to get their share of second-chance opportunities, but they have not been able to make many of them count.
Joel Lefevre
