The Golden State Warriors are favored to win over the Houston Rockets in the first round of the NBA playoffs, with odds of -190 at BetMGM despite being the No. 7 seed. This marks only the second time since 1988 that a No. 7 seed is favored over a No. 2 seed in the first round, with the Warriors earning their spot by defeating the Memphis Grizzlies in the play-in game.
The most favored outcome in the series is a Warriors win in six games, with odds of +310. The Rockets, with odds of +160, are seen as underdogs due to their relative inexperience in the playoffs. Guard Fred VanVleet is the only player on the team with NBA championship experience, while the Warriors boast seasoned players like Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, as well as a strong performance after acquiring Jimmy Butler.
During the regular season, the Warriors won three out of five games against the Rockets, though Houston secured a recent victory with a 106-96 win where Curry struggled, shooting just 1-of-10 from the field.