With the personalities involved, drama was guaranteed in this intense first-round series between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors — and the temperatures are rising again ahead of tonight’s Game 3.
From Dillon Brooks’ latest bulletin board material to Jimmy Butler’s uncertain status, there’s already a lot to unpack, and I’m digging into the Rockets vs. Warriors props market with the series delicately poised at 1-1.
Read on for my top three NBA picks for this primetime April 26 showdown.
Best Rockets vs Warriors props
Draymond Green Over 6.5 rebounds (-115 Bet365)
Jalen Green Over 20.5 points (-105 Bet365)- Thompson Under 19.5 points + rebounds (-115 Bet365)
Rockets vs Warriors player props for April 26
Draymond Green Over 6.5 rebounds (-115 Bet365)
It doesn’t usually take much to get Draymond Green fired up, so Dillon Brooks’ “dirty player” comments feel like a red rag to a bull here.
Draymond isn’t likely to let that slide, and he’ll have a rocking Chase Center behind him tonight. Though he’s only grabbed 11 rebounds across the first two games in this series, the stage is set for a snarling defensive masterclass against a Houston team that can go through offensive droughts in the halfcourt.
The Golden State Warriors are asking a lot of Green in the battle on the boards against Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams. But the Rockets ranked 21st in the NBA in field goal percentage this season, so there should be misses to gobble up, and Golden State’s defensive anchor has finished with 7+ rebounds four times already this month.
If Butler — an underrated rebounder — sits out or isn’t at 100%, there’s even more of an onus on Draymond to protect the glass, and I see him cashing the Over tonight.
Jalen Green Over 20.5 points (-105 Bet365)
The biggest looming question for the Houston Rockets tonight is obvious — which version of Jalen Green will show up?
He was the star of Game 2, drilling eight triples on the way to 38 points, but a total non-factor in the series opener, where he gave the Rockets just seven points.
I’m leaning more towards a glass half-full perspective on Green here. Look for the Warriors to make the kinds of adjustments that take a Game 2 repeat off the table, but his athleticism is a matchup headache for the Golden State backcourt.
While Green’s efficiency can be ugly - just 42% from the field this year - he was more decisive last time out, “answering back” as he put it, following a tentative Game 1.
I’ll take the Over on this 20.5 points prop O/U line as Houston tries to reclaim homecourt advantage.
Amen Thompson Under 19.5 points & rebounds (-115 Bet365)
If you’re looking for proof of the physical toll that the Steph Curry assignment takes, Amen Thompson’s quiet series so far is a pretty good indicator.
Thompson ended up with just 11 points and a single rebound in 23 minutes on Wednesday, in addition to being at the center of the accidental collision with Butler, and his reluctance as a shooter is more glaring with the slower playoff pace.
Among all the positives that Thompson brings to the table, it’s easy to forget he’s a career 22% 3-point shooter.
He’s fallen short of this 19.5 combo prop O/U in both games so far, which represents a real drop-off after his rampaging form in January, February and March.
But Thompson’s No. 1 job is clearly to shadow Curry and make life miserable for Golden State’s biggest weapon, and that task doesn’t leave as much leeway to stuff the stat sheet.
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