Houston Rockets at Golden State Warriors (-8.5, 224)
Warriors lead series 2-1
All the questions that were raised by the Golden State Warriors' lackluster performance in Game 2, particularly surrounding star guard Stephen Curry, were answered in emphatic fashion in a dominating performance in Game 3. Similar questions are now surrounding the top-seeded Houston Rockets, who will try to bounce back from an embarrassing performance and even the Western Conference finals at two wins apiece when they visit the Warriors for Game 4 on Tuesday. **video
Curry averaged 17 points and was a combined 2-of-13 from 3-point range as the Warriors split the first two games in Houston but found his shot during a third-quarter outburst on Sunday and finished with a game-high 35 points on 13-of-23 shooting as second-seeded Golden State breezed to a 126-85 victory. "A lot of it was just talking to myself, almost like you've got to be your biggest fan sometimes," Curry told reporters. "No matter what questions I was being asked over the first two games or what the expectations was, I had the highest expectations for myself. And you've just got to find whatever you want to get going. I mean, obviously, it felt good, and you want to use that energy to show your teammates that you're here, you're with them, get the crowd into it." The Rockets, who scored 127 points on 51.1 percent shooting while winning Game 2, suffered the worst playoff loss in franchise history in Game 3. "It's just one thing led to another," Houston coach Mike D'Antoni told reporters. "Played soft, actually. I mean, you can't do that with these guys. These guys are good."
TV: 9 p.m. ET, TNT
LINE HISTORY: Golden State opened a 8.5-point home favorites for Game 4 and at some shops the number has been bet down to an even -8. The total opened 223 and has been bet up to 224 at most books. Check out the complete line history here.
INJURY REPORT:
Warriors - SG Patrick McCaw (Early June, Back), SF Chris Boucher (Out Indefinitely, Ankle).
Rockets - No injuries to report.
MATCHUP CHART:
ABOUT THE ROCKETS: Houston shot 39.5 percent from the floor, including 11-of-34 from beyond the arc, and committed 20 turnovers leading to 28 points on Sunday. "We weren't as aggressive as we needed to be," Rockets star James Harden, who agreed with his coach's assessment of the team, told reporters. "We started off the game pretty solid, and then we let them gain some confidence to end the first quarter. But just defensively, they didn't feel us, and it showed tonight." Harden scored a team-high 20 points in the loss but attempted just 16 field goals after averaging 24 attempts in the first two games and attempted a series-low five free throws, converting four.
ABOUT THE WARRIORS: Curry went 3-of-11 from the floor in the first half on Sunday but was 7-of-7 in the third quarter, sparking a run that put the game out of reach. "You know, I've seen those explosions happen here and everywhere," Warriors forward Draymond Green told reporters of Curry's third-quarter outburst. "It's not just here. Nonetheless, definitely get a lot of support from the fans. His 3 is similar to some people's dunk. You go to certain arenas and a guy gets a dunk and it's just absurd. That's how his 3-ball is." Green finished with 10 points, 17 rebounds and six assists while serving as the key to the team's much-improved defensive effort.
CHEERLEADER WAR:
TRENDS:
* Warriors are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 Conference Finals games.
* Under is 6-1 in Rockets last 7 games after allowing more than 125 points in their previous game.
* Under is 5-1 in Warriors last 6 overall.
Find more in-depth betting trends here.
COVERS CONSENSUS: 51 percent of spread bets are on Golden State while 67 percent of totals bets are on the Over. Click here for the latest Covers Consensus numbers.
