There is plenty of buzz surrounding the Western Conference playoff matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Houston Rockets. The youthful Rockets are challenging Stephen Curry and the experienced Warriors, who have kept the championship window open around their aging stars by adding Jimmy Butler at the trade deadline.
Despite entering as the seventh seed, the Warriors are -180 favorites to win the series on DraftKings Sportsbook. Houston finished the regular season with a 52-30 record, but with this set to be its first postseason test, it holds +150 odds of winning the series.
The Rockets are narrow one-point favorites for Game 1 and -118 on the moneyline on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Warriors hold -102 odds on the moneyline with the game total set at 212.
With the stage set, here are my favorite Curry prop bets ahead of the opening game of the series.
Best Stephen Curry Prop Bets on DraftKings Sportsbook
Curry’s props are listed at over/under 24.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 4.5 made three-pointers and 34.5 combined points, rebounds and assists.
Steph Curry Under 4.5 Made Three-Pointers (-130)
No player in NBA history has made more three-pointers than Curry. He led the NBA in three-point makes per game this season, the 10th time he has accomplished this in his career. Curry attempted 11.2 three-point attempts per game this season and connected at a 39.7% rate. This comes out to an average of 4.4 made three-pointers per game. He has made over 4.5 perimeter shots in 28 games this season.
With this said, he has been held to under 4.5 made three-pointers in two of the three matchups with the Rockets and 42 of the games overall. This includes the most recent matchup between these two teams in which Curry was limited to only three points on 1-for-10 shooting from the field and 1-for-8 on three-point attempts.
Curry is too talented to be fully contained for a full series, but expect him to struggle in the opener. Houston is a hard-nosed, defensive team that will push the limit with how physical it can be. The Rockets finished the regular season ranked sixth in opponents’ points allowed, sixth in opponents’ field goal percentage and second in opponents’ three-point attempts allowed. Dillon Brooks, Fred VanVleet, and several of their youthful wing defenders will spend some time chasing Curry around off-ball, and they have enough bodies to be able to match Curry’s seemingly endless energy level.
Expect the Rockets to do everything possible to make anyone but Curry beat them. They have shown success in bothering him on the perimeter before, and this surely will be the root of their defensive game plan. Don’t be shocked if Curry is used as more of a decoy for stretches tonight.
Steph Curry Over 5.5 Assists (+114)
Curry’s perimeter shooting will always be his best trait, but he deserves more credit for being one of the more creative passers in the game. Curry is averaging 6.0 assists per game this season and has averaged as many as 8.5 assists per game in a season. He has recorded over 5.5 assists in 42 of the 70 games he played this season. This includes recording eight assists in one of the regular-season matchups with Houston.
With the gravity that Curry is set to command, look for the Warriors to leverage his attention to open up shots for others. He is too effective to be limited from impacting the game at all. Look for him to take what the defense gives him by getting creative as a passer.
Curry is one of the most unselfish superstars in existence and will be willing to fill whatever role is asked. On the road in the series opener, Houston will be locked in on ensuring he does not have an opportunity to get off many shots. Count on Curry to deliver over 5.5 assists tonight.
