Rockets Still Have Second-Best NBA Championship Odds Despite Game 1 Loss to Warriors

• The Rockets overcame a dismal first half with steady play following the NBA All-Star Break
• Houston’s Game 1 loss to Golden State leaves the Rockets poised to lose their fourth straight playoff series to the Warriors
• Houston has claimed just one playoff series win without home-court advantage since 1997

The Houston Rockets fell behind early and struggled to keep pace the rest of the way in a 104-100 series-opening loss to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday. However, the slow start to their fourth playoff matchup with the Warriors in five years has not dampened the Rockets in the NBA Championship odds, where they continue to sit second to Golden State as a +650 wager.

2019 NBA Championship Odds

*Odds taken 04/30/19

Rockets Overcame Shaky Start to Claim Four Seed in the West

After struggling with consistency early on in the campaign, the Rockets emerged as one of the hottest teams in the league following the NBA All-Star Break, claiming wins in 20 of their final 24 regular-season contests to seize the no. 4 seed in the NBA Western Conference.

The Houston Rockets tried to blame everything on Carmelo Anthony.

They are 9-11 on the season and riding a four-game losing streak 😳 pic.twitter.com/KZoGTZs5WB

— Soundtrack Sportz (@SportzTrackz) November 29, 2018

Houston continued their strong play in their first-round clash with Utah, knocking off the Jazz in five games, including a pair of lopsided wins on home court in Games 1 and 2 by an average margin of 26 points. As expected, James Harden has led the Houston attack, averaging 29 points per game during the postseason, capped by a 35-point performance in a losing cause in Game 1.

Warriors Have Historically Owned Houston in Playoff Matchups

The Rockets still face major obstacles in their bid to get past the Warriors. Houston has taken five of seven from the defending NBA champions in regular-season matchups, including three straight victories at Oracle Arena, all while pegged as an underdog by at least 8.5 points.

The Rockets have mustered just five total wins over their three previous playoff series with the Warriors.

But it has been a different story in the playoffs. The Rockets have mustered just five total wins over their three previous playoff series with the Warriors, capped by last year’s loss in the Western Conference Finals in seven games.

This is the 4th time in the past 5 seasons (2014-15 to 2018-19) that the @Warriors will face the @HoustonRockets in the playoffs. The @Warriors have a record of 12-5 (.706) when up against the Rockets in the playoffs. #NBA #NBAPlayoffs #StrengthInNumbers #DubNation

— Miko Palero (@MikoPalero) April 27, 2019

Not surprisingly, the Rockets entered the second round pegged as long +215 underdogs on the NBA series prices going into the second round, and have now dipped to a lengthy +290 wager following their Game 1 loss.

Shaky Track Record as a Low Seed Still Haunting Houston

Complicating matters for Houston is the team’s recent struggles on the road. With Sunday’s loss, the Rockets have now fallen to defeat in four of their past eight on the road, including a trio of outright losses as road favorites. That extends a lengthy stretch of shaky play on the road during the postseason, with the club going 9-19 SU in their past 28 playoff games away from Toyota Center.

That run has bolstered a worrisome trend that has seen the Rockets produce a playoff series win as a lower seed just once since 1997. That victory came a decade ago, when the club knocked off the Trail Blazers in six games in the first round of the 2009 NBA playoffs while pegged as a five-seed.

The Rockets have produced a playoff series win as a lower seed just once since 1997.

So with the Warriors still the team to beat and perched as heavy -150 chalk to pull off the championship three-peat, is there any value to be found elsewhere on the NBA championship odds?

Raptors Providing Exceptional Value on NBA Championship Odds

The best place to look this time around is in the Eastern Conference, where the Toronto Raptors remain listed as an attractive +750 wager. Powered by Kawhi Leonard, who leads all Eastern Conference players with 31.3 points per game, the Raptors overcame early adversity to claim a dominating win over the Orlando Magic in the first round.

https://twitter.com/Supreme_Gifs/status/1122318253710123008

Toronto faces that adversity again following a 94-89 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in Game 2 of their second-round series. However, the Raptors have brought a heightened level of maturity to the court this spring, gained from recent playoff failures.

In addition to getting career performances out of Leonard and Pascal Siakam, who has averaged 23.3 points per game, the Raptors proved to be the best team in the East against opponents from the West this season, racking up a 22-8 SU record, including a pair of impressive wins over the Warriors.

Pick: Toronto Raptors (+750)