Can Eric Paschall Help Warriors Keep Up With Rockets?

The Houston Rockets return home after a disappointing road trip to host the depleted Warriors. Golden State has played hard despite its injuries, powered by surprising rookie Eric Paschall, but will he be enough to match the superstar duo of James Harden and Russell Westbrook?

Sportsbook Odds Analysis

The Rockets have played better at home and opened as 17-point favorites against a Warriors team missing all of its key players from last season. As with any game involving the Rockets, the total opened high at 232.5 points.

Golden State News & Notes

The Warriors started the season 1-5 and went into Monday night’s game against Portland without their entire starting lineup … so obviously they pulled off the upset win, toppling the Blazers 127-118.

The win was Golden State’s first in its brand-new home venue, the Chase Center, and the offense was powered by another dazzling performance from rookie Eric Paschall.

Playing on his 23rd birthday, Paschall dropped 34 points and added 13 rebounds in the win, even getting “MVP” chants near the end of the game. He’s averaging 26.3 points and 6.7 rebounds in three starts this season.

While league MVP might be a little exaggerated, it appears Golden State may have found its most valuable player this season, and going against a Houston team that allows the second-most points per game in the NBA, Paschall may not slow down any time soon.

Houston News & Notes

Following an embarrassing loss Sunday in which they trailed the Heat 46-14 after the first quarter, the Rockets rebounded Monday with a 107-100 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. James Harden scored 44 points, and leads the NBA at 36.6 points per game, but even with Russell Westbrook it’s the same Houston formula: lots of offense, not so much defense.

The Rockets are the league’s third-highest scoring offense … and second-worst scoring defense. They’ve been better at home in the early season, allowing 10 fewer points per game, so coming home to welcome a depleted Warriors club should be exactly what the Rockets need to kick-start a winning streak.

This will be Houston’s third game in four nights, but since Westbrook didn’t play on Monday due to scheduled rest, he should be fresh and ready to attack — and exploit — an inexperienced Warriors backcourt.

Betting Pick: Rockets -17

After having their season ended again by Golden State last season, Houston should be out for early revenge. It’s not the same Warriors as last year, but the Rockets will take the payback nonetheless.