The No. 7 seed Golden State Warriors will face off against the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets to kick off their 2025 NBA postseason. The Warriors, winners of four championships in the past decade, are armed with two of the greatest playoff performers the game has seen: Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler.
It’s a fun matchup between a veteran squad with championship experience and the fearless young Rockets, who are bigger, far more athletic, and coached by Ime Udoka. Let’s look at Game 1 and the series as a whole.
Warriors vs. Rockets Game 1 Preview
- Where/when: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas; 9:30 p.m. ET
- TV: TNT
What the Stats Say
The Warriors ranked fourth in the NBA in assists, steals, and 3-pointers made. They also came in seventh in rebounding, but they were just 20th in true shooting percentage and 17th in both points per game and blocks.
By comparison, the Rockets finished first in rebounding, 10th in steals, and 13th in points per game. However, they were 28th in assists, 24th in true shooting, and 22nd in 3-pointers made.
Expect Houston to use its size to dominate the glass and create second-chance looks. Golden State, meanwhile, has the edge in playmaking and long-range shooting.
Previous Matchups
Houston won the most recent game between the teams, 106-96. They also won the NBA Cup quarterfinal matchup, 91-90. The Warriors, however, won the other three matchups, and lead the season series 3-2.
Key Matchup: Stephen Curry vs. Amen Thompson
Amen Thompson, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, is an outstanding defender and in the mix for All-NBA Defensive honors this year. In the last game between the teams, he held Curry to just 1-of-10 shooting and three points — one of the quietest games of Curry’s career.
Thompson has the size and quickness to give anyone problems, even the best shooter in NBA history. If he can repeat that defensive effort, the Rockets may have the upper hand in Game 1 and the series overall.
Still, it’s hard to picture Curry having another bad game like that. Look for some adjustments. He dropped 37 on the Memphis Grizzlies in his last outing, along with eight rebounds and four assists.
In fact, Curry has dominated playoff-caliber teams recently. He scored 52 against Memphis earlier this month, followed by 37 against the Los Angeles Lakers and 36 against the Denver Nuggets in a three-game stretch. It’s been another big year for the baby-faced assassin.
Warriors vs. Rockets Game 1 Predictions and Expert Pick
This should be a tough and physical series. I’ve got the Rockets taking Game 1 at home. They’re rested, younger, and their energy could wear down the veteran Warriors, who had to survive the play-in game against Memphis after losing in overtime to the Los Angeles Clippers in the regular-season finale.
Houston’s size and defensive flexibility could give them an edge early. But I still wouldn’t bet against Butler and Curry across the full series.
