Experience versus youth. That’s the best description for the Houston Rockets’ series with Golden State; a series the Warriors lead 2-1 heading into Monday’s contest in the Chase Center.
Houston has several players making their postseason debut after their surprising runner-up finish in the Western Conference. That group includes Rocket stars Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun.
That’s not the case for Golden State. The Warriors have at least four players with 80 or more postseason games under their belt, a product of making six trips to the NBA Finals since 2015.
Can the Rockets even this series before returning to Houston? We’ll cover that and provide our top three player prop bets for Game 4 of the Western Conference’s opening-round series.
Houston Rockets SG Alperen Sengun OVER 3.5 Assists
Green has been a model of inconsistency during the postseason. The 6-foot-4 player sandwiched his 38-point outburst during Game 2 with performances that saw him score a combined 16 points in 70 minutes.
Where he has been consistent is his ability to find open teammates. The fourth-year player has 13 assists in those three games, finishing with five or more twice. It’s a trend that will continue as Golden State focuses its defensive efforts around Green, and bettors should take the over on this assist prop bet.
Houston Rockets C Alperen Sengun OVER 34.5 Pts + Reb + Ast
Sengun has continued his consistent play in his first postseason appearance. Through three games, the Houston center is averaging 19.3 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists against the Warriors.
To avoid a 3-1 deficit, the 6-foot-11 center will need to have a strong game. In two of the first three outings, he’s finished with at least 36 combined points, rebounds, and assists. Bettors should expect him to continue that trend, taking the over on this combo prop bet for Monday’s game.
Golden State Warriors G Brandin Podziemski UNDER 12.5 Points
While several Warriors are making what feels like their 20th postseason appearance this year, Golden State guard Brandin Podziemski isn’t one of them. The 6-foot-4 guard is making his playoff debut in this series against the Rockets.
It has not been the best of starts for this former 2023 first-round pick. In his second season, Podziemski’s numbers are down from his regular-season totals. Bettors should expect that trend to continue and take the under on his points prop wager.
Best Bet: Golden State (-3.5)
The Warriors and Rockets are evenly matched despite this series featuring a two-versus-seven pairing. Golden State’s edge is based on their previous postseason experience, having played in multiple NBA playoffs over the past decade.
Golden State knows how to close out a series, and the Warriors can build a near-insurmountable lead with a victory on Monday. Bettors should expect Houston to fall short again in Game 4 and lose this pivotal road contest by at least four points.
