Loading...
The Western Conference first-round series between the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors shifts back to Houston tonight for a crucial Game 5 showdown. With the Warriors leading the series 3-1, both teams have traded blows in what’s quickly becoming one of the most entertaining postseason matchups. After Houston’s loss in Game 4 in San Francisco, all eyes will be on the Warriors to wrap the series up. Let’s dive into the series thus far while also making a pick for Game 5.
Golden State drew first blood on the road in Game 1 behind a vintage Curry performance and strong support from Jimmy Butler. Despite a solid outing from Şengun (26 points and 9 boards), the Rockets were undone by turnovers and late-game execution issues. Game 2 saw Houston punch back hard. Jalen Green erupted for 38 points, and the Rockets dominated from start to finish, evening the series before heading to Chase Center.
Game 3 marked a setback for Houston. With Butler sidelined, the Warriors didn’t miss a beat. Curry torched the Rockets for 36, and unexpected contributions from Buddy Hield and Gary Payton II helped Golden State pull away late. GS slowed down Green, and Houston’s offense stalled. The Warriors took a 2–1 series lead with a 104–93 win.
In Game 4, the Warriors grabbed hold of the series on the back of Jimmy Butler. Butler, who missed Game 3, returned with a masterclass of 27 points, 6 assists and 5 rebounds. Steph Curry chipped in with 17, but the role players stepped up again. Brandin Podziemski scored a playoff career-high with 26 points, while Buddy Hield chipped in with 15 points. As for the Rockets, Alperen Sengun had a dominant performance with a 31-point and 10-rebound double-double. Fred VanVleet also added 25 points, but it was not enough for the Rockets to escape with a Game 4 victory,
With the series now a 3-1 lead in favor of the Warriors, expect rotations to tighten and stars to log heavy minutes. From a DFS standpoint, that makes usage rates and matchup trends even more important.
On the Houston side, Jalen Green should be on your radar. Even though he has scored fewer than 10 points in three of the four games in this series, he is due. The Rockets’ offense flows much more smoothly when he gets downhill early. Coach Ime Udoka will likely keep him involved from the jump with designed sets and early-clock opportunities. Şengun remains a rock-solid DFS play, especially given Golden State’s struggles defending bigs who can pass and score.
Fred VanVleet may also be worth a look as a mid-tier guard option—he’s seeing major minutes, and his playmaking and scoring were a huge reason why the Rockets were almost able to take Game 4.
For the Warriors, Curry is still the engine. He’s averaging over 26 points per game in the series and remains one of the safest high-ceiling DFS plays on the board. With Butler back at full strength, he is another formidable option. However, Golden State may again rely on players like Buddy Hield and Brandin Podziemski, who have delivered strong two-way performances.
Back on their home court, the Rockets will look to hold off elimination and get the series back to 3-2. Expect a raucous crowd, and if Sengun and VanVleet start hot again, Houston has a real path to victory. They just need more from Jalen Green.
The Warriors, however, are as resilient as they come and with Curry on the floor, they’re never far from flipping the game. Either way, this one promises to be another high-stakes thriller, but we will lean on the veterans in this one. That’s why we are going with Chef Curry himself as our top DFS pick tonight.
Dylan has had a love for sports since he was a kid. Four years ago, he decided to dive into the sports content-creating industry specializing in Fantasy Football, NFL and NBA. He has since had his work published on sites that include Fantasy Alarm, Fansided, and Fantasy Six Pack.