Houston Rockets vs Golden State Warriors Picks and Predictions April 23rd 2025

Rockets Seek Offensive Spark to Even Series with Warriors in Game 2

The Houston Rockets know they can’t afford another sluggish offensive performance if they want to avoid heading to San Francisco down 0-2 in their first-round playoff series. After a gritty defensive effort was undermined by cold shooting in Game 1, Houston will look to even the series against the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night.

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Rockets Dominate the Glass, But Not the Scoreboard

Houston’s Game 1 loss was defined by two glaring contrasts: total rebounding control and offensive inefficiency. The Rockets grabbed 22 offensive boards — compared to just 6 for the Warriors — but shot a dismal 39.1 percent from the field and just 6-of-29 (20.7%) from deep.

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“We dominated the glass … but had a poor offensive showing in general,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said. “We had wide-open threes, missed layups — chances we just didn’t convert.”

The rebounding advantage yielded only a +10 edge in second-chance points (22-12), far less than what Houston needed to close a 10-point deficit.

Still, the Rockets trimmed a 23-point gap to just four in the fourth quarter — a rally Udoka and forward Jabari Smith Jr. hope to build on.

“We had opportunities to win,” Smith said after a perfect shooting night off the bench. “We’ve just got to clean things up offensively.”

Warriors Lean on Experience, Curry & Butler Combo

Golden State countered Houston’s hustle with veteran shot-making, led by Stephen Curry’s 31 points, including a dagger 34-footer late in the fourth. The Warriors shot a strong 47.4 percent from the field and 12-of-32 from beyond the arc, hitting twice as many threes as the Rockets.

“They’re an incredible team, definitely physical,” Jimmy Butler said of the Rockets. “But I like to think we don’t back down from any challenge.”

Butler, acquired at the deadline from Miami, has quickly become an X-factor for Golden State. After a scorching play-in performance, he followed up with 25 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 5 steals in Game 1 — a stat line that echoed his postseason legacy.

This version of Golden State might be new, but the theme remains familiar for Rockets fans: this is now the fifth playoff series between these franchises since 2015, and the Warriors have won them all.

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Key Adjustments for Game 2

• Houston’s Offense: More consistent shooting from Jalen Green and Alperen Sengün is essential. Combined, the two shot just 12-of-30 in Game 1.
• Bench Boost: Jabari Smith Jr. was perfect from the field — he may have earned a bigger role.
• Defensive Discipline: Curry’s backbreaking threes often came on late switches or second-chance plays. Closing those gaps is vital.

“We can’t let missed shots take us out of what we do defensively,” Udoka said. “We’ll make them eventually. But we have to stay locked in.”

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Rockets’ Young Core Needs a Response — Or Risk Familiar Frustration

Houston’s roster may be revamped, but the challenge remains steep: beat the dynasty that’s ended your season four times in eight years. Game 2 offers the chance to write a different story — one driven by defense, rebounding, and (hopefully) made shots.