The Golden State Warriors will look to close out the series on the road in Houston and advance to the Western Conference Semifinals.

The Warriors have been playing great defense in this series. Even though the Houston Rockets have more size and youth, the Dubs have been getting it done. Three of the games have been close, and the only one that wasn't was Game 2, when Jimmy Butler missed most of the game due to a first-quarter injury. It's been a strength-in-numbers effort for Golden State, and the championship veterans have come up clutch in the final minutes of the last two games.

The Rockets will try to avoid having their season end at home. Houston has played strong defense as well, excelling in points in the paint and rebounding. They can sometimes match the Warriors' three-point efficiency, but the shooting can also go cold for stretches. The Rockets have performed well on both sides of the ball in the first quarter but haven't been able to sustain that momentum. In Game 2, they set the tone early, built a double-digit lead, and never let the Warriors cut it to single digits. That's the formula they'll need to repeat in Game 5.

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*The above data was collected on April 30, 2025, and may have changed since writing.

Golden State Warriors

Houston Rockets

The Warriors battle the Rockets in Game 5 of this best-of-seven Western Conference Quarterfinal series. Golden State's scoring has been solid throughout the series, and their defense has held Houston under 100 points twice. In Game 4, the Warriors secured the win thanks to 17 made threes, 20 free throws, and clutch fourth-quarter defense. Jimmy Butler led the team with 27 points, and the Warriors will look to stay out of foul trouble in Game 5, as it allowed Houston's big men to attack the rim when key defenders like Draymond Green had to sit for 12 minutes.

The Rockets will try to continue using their big-man lineup in Game 5. That strategy allowed them to dominate the glass and force the Warriors into offensive cold spells. In Game 4, Houston shot 49% from the field but missed 12 free throws. They outscored Golden State in the paint by 20 and did a decent job taking care of the ball. Their offensive game plan centered around Alperen Sengun finishing at the rim and Fred VanVleet draining eight threes. The Rockets need to focus less on drawing fouls and technicals from Golden State and more on execution. They must capitalize on their size, hit free throws, and get consistent depth scoring.

Best Bet: Over

Even though total points in this series have hovered around the low 200s, scoring is expected to increase slightly in Game 5. The last two games have been close, defensive battles, which typically lead to more free throws. The Rockets may also find their rhythm from beyond the arc. With their season on the line, Houston will play with urgency, attacking the basket more aggressively. Meanwhile, the Warriors are likely to have another player step up with a career night.