- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The Houston Rockets are staring down the barrel of a series sweep but will try and find a way to turn things around when they take on the Golden State Warriors. Join The Roar for live scores of Game 3 from 11:30am (AEST).
The Toyota Center in Houston will be the venue for Game 3 and 4 of this first-round NBA Playoffs series, and it could be the final two games of the Rockets season. They come into Game 3 down 2-0 and haven’t even looked like competing yet.
After an inconsistent regular season saw them scrape into eighth place on closing day, they were always going to be up against it facing the Warriors.
Game 1 saw them go down by 26 points. Stephen Curry was injured early in the second half, taking no further part in the game, but the damage was already done. The Rockets actually managed to win the second half by a point, but after Curry put up 24 first-half points, it was a case off too little, too late.
Curry sat out the second game, and unsurprisingly surprise it was a little closer as the Warriors won by nine points. Shooting guard Klay Thompson was the man who was able to step up, scoring 34 points, while Draymond Green chipped in with his usual all-around efforts, pulling down 14 rebounds and adding 12 points.
From Houston’s point of view, they need production on the offensive end from more than just James Harden. Harden has scored 17 and 28 points in each of the games respectively, top-scoring for Houston each time. While he is their best player on the court by a long way, he can’t do it all himself.
Trevor Ariza and Patrick Beverley need to stand up on offence. The Warriors defence wasn’t great in Game 2, gifting 106 points to the Rockets, and if Houston can get some extra production from their fringe players, they could find a way to avoid the a sweep.
One thing is clear for Houston: they need to put in a greater effort than the Warriors. They’ve been out-rebounded and have given up more turnovers – two of the key barometers in winning basketball games – both of which they need to correct to counter the class of the Warriors offence.
Prediction
The Rockets have been outclassed in the first two matches, and it doesn’t look like changing even if Curry sits out again.
Warriors by 8.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores of this match from 11:30am (AEST) and don’t forget to add your own comments in the section below.
Build your own ultimate team! Pick your key players and take a shot at big cash prizes every day with Draftstars. For great odds on NBA games every day head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.