Joining the Golden State Warriors hasn’t been as glamorous as Al Horford hoped.
The veteran center was supposed to be a complementary piece on a championship contender, but with injuries ravaging the Warriors’ stars, Horford is carrying more of the load in the home stretch of the schedule.
He's playing more minutes and serving a big role inside, especially on the glass. My Warriors vs. Rockets predictions and NBA picks for March 5 bank on “Big Al” to battle on the boards.
Warriors vs Rockets prediction
Warriors vs Rockets best bet: Al Horford Over 5.5 Rebounds (-112)
Al Horford’s floor time jumped in the past seven outings, logging more than 26 minutes and hauling in an average of 5.2 rebounds.
He’s snagged six or more boards in four of those showings, and his rebounding chances spiked to 9.2 in that frame — up from 7.7 before that uptick in action.
He could face less competition on the glass vs. a Houston Rockets frontcourt missing a ton of size, with its top four rebounders either questionable or out Thursday.
Projections sit north of six rebounds from Horford, with Over 5.5 priced as high as -130 at other books.
Enjoying Covers content? Add us as a preferred source on your Google account
Warriors vs Rockets same-game parlay
Houston is back home after a road-heavy schedule. The Rockets are trying to hold on to the No. 3 seed in the West, while the Golden State Warriors are sinking like a stone with two wins in the last seven games and little motivation to make the postseason cut.
Horford is getting more run with the Dubs roster depleted, and Houston’s frontcourt could be running thin, with several forwards dealing with ailments.
Gui Santos is enjoying an uptick in offensive touches due to the Warriors’ injury issues. Before a bad outing vs. the Clippers, he scored 13 or more points in nine of his last 10 games and is projected for 14.4 points tonight.
Warriors vs Rockets SGP
- Houston Rockets moneyline
- Al Horford Over 5.5 rebounds
- Gui Santos Over 12.5 points
Our "from downtown" SGP: Draymond vs. Durant
There’s no love lost between these former teammates. Draymond Green gets the Golden State offense going while Kevin Durant comes up short on his scoring total, but helps pick up the slack on the glass.
Warriors vs Rockets SGP
- Draymond Green Over 8.5 points
- Kevin Durant Under 25.5 points
- Draymond Green Over 4.5 assists
- Kevin Durant Over 5.5 rebounds
Warriors vs Rockets odds
- Spread: Warriors +8.5 | Rockets -8.5
- Moneyline: Warriors +280 | Rockets -360
- Over/Under: Over 214 | Under 214
Warriors vs Rockets betting trend to know
Houston is the best home Under bet in the NBA, going 9-17-1 Over/Under inside the Toyota Center. Find more NBA betting trends for Warriors vs. Rockets.
How to watch Warriors vs Rockets
| Location | Toyota Center, Houston, TX |
| Date | Thursday, March 5, 2026 |
| Tip-off | 7:30 p.m. ET |
| TV | Prime Video |
Warriors vs Rockets latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA.
Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
