Rockets vs. Warriors prediction and odds for NBA Summer League (Fade Houston?)

Two teams that are on opposite ends of the spectrum this summer face off on Thursday in the Las Vegas Summer League. 

The rebuilding and young Houston Rockets are a perfect 3-0 in Vegas while the Golden State Warriors – their opponent on Thursday – are 0-3 after an overtime loss to Dallas on Wednesday night. 

The bright side for Golden State is that Lester Quinones is emerging as a stud in the Summer League and could be an option for the team in the rotation in the 2023-24 season. 

Houston has gotten off to a hot start, but it’s also shut down second-year players Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason for the summer. The team still won its last game without them, but the roster looks much different. 

Plus, No. 4 overall pick Amen Thompson is out for the summer with an injury. 

Can Trevor Hudgins, Jermaine Samuels Jr. and company carry Houston to a fourth straight win? 

Oddsmakers seem to think so based on the line for this game: 

Rockets vs. Warriors odds, spread and total

Spread

• Rockets -5 (-110)
• Warriors +5 (-110)

Moneyline

• Rockets: -205
• Warriors: +175

Total

• 187 (Over -110/Under -110)

Odds are available via DraftKings Sportsbook. 

Rockets vs. Warriors prediction and pick

Is it concerning that Golden State has yet to win this summer? 

For the sake of what I’m about to bet, yes. 

The Warriors are in the second night of a back-to-back, but I like them to cover here against a Houston team that I believe is being overvalued for what it did with far superior players in the lineup earlier on in Summer League. 

Without Thompson, Eason or Smith, the Rockets’ roster looks a lot more like Golden State’s – which is a benefit to the Warriors when they’re getting five points. 

I am interested to see if Golden State sits anyone on the second night of a back-to-back, but the Warriors have been in all of their games this summer. 

They lost by seven to the Los Angeles Lakers, eight to the New Orleans Pelicans and two to Dallas on Wednesday. 

The Rockets have been great, but we only gave a one-game sample with this roster that they’ll trot out on Thursday. Five points is too many for my liking in this exhibition. 

Pick: Warriors +5 (-110)

Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change.