The Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors meet Monday for Game 4 of their best-of-7, first-round NBA Playoffs series. Tip from Chase Center is scheduled for 10 p.m. ET (TNT / truTV / Max). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s NBA odds around the Rockets vs. Warriors odds and make our expert NBA picks and predictions for the best bets.

Playoff series: Warriors lead 2-1

Houston lost 104-93 as a 1.5-point road underdog in Game 3 Saturday as the Under (205) cashed. G Fred VanVleet’s 17 points led 5 Rockets in double figures, but the team shot a dismal 39.5% from the field (34-for-86) and squandered a 13-point lead in the loss. Houston has dropped 5 of its last 6 games.

Golden State managed to win Game 3, taking the series lead, despite F Jimmy Butler sitting out with a pelvic injury and deep gluteal muscle contusion suffered in Game 2. G Stephen Curry led the charge with a game-high 36 points, going 12-for-23 from the field, including 5-for-13 from 3 in his monster performance. He also had a-game-high 9 assists with 7 rebounds. Golden State has won 3 of its last 4.

G Buddy Hield added 17 points off the bench — he went 5-for-11 behind the 3-point line — while G Gary Payton II, also off the bench, scored 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter.

Butler is questionable for Game 4. Jimmy Buckets averaged 17.9 points in 30 games since joining the Warriors in a February trade. He scored 38 points in their Play-In win vs. the Memphis Grizzlies and tallied 25 points in their 95-85 Game 1 win at Houston in this series.

Rockets at Warriors odds

Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 5:19 p.m. ET.

Moneyline (ML): Rockets +145 (bet $100 to win $145) | Warriors -180 (bet $180 to win $100)Against the spread (ATS): Rockets +3.5 (-102) | Warriors -3.5 (-118)Over/Under (O/U): 203.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)Rockets at Warriors key injuries

Rockets

C Jock Landale (knee) probable

Warriors

F Jimmy Butler (pelvis) questionable

For most recent updates: Official NBA injury report.

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Rockets at Warriors picks and predictionsPrediction

Rockets 106, Warriors 102

BET ROCKETS (+145).

Despite the Rockets dropping 5 of their last 6 games, they showed a capability of handling the Warriors on the road Saturday. Houston led by 13 (37-24) midway in the second quarter before going to halftime up 49-46. The Rockets have the pieces to knock off the Warriors (-180) — all 8 Rockets who played in Game 3 scored at least 8 points.

In a game that will surely define the rest of the series, evening it at 2-2 or Golden State going up 3-1, this is a near do-or-die for the road team.

PASS.

There is better value on the Rockets moneyline … but if you want the insurance of taking 3.5 points, it’s understandable. (FanDuel Sportsbook lists Rockets +4).

BET OVER 203.5 (-110).

Despite both teams flashing strong defenses in this series and all season, this total is simply too low in a critical game to not back the Over.

The Rockets scored 106 or more points in 7 of their last 9 games while allowing 104 or more in 7 of their last 10. The Over has cashed in 5 of their last 9.

The Warriors scored 104 or more in 6 of their last 10, and allowed 104 or more in 6 of their last 10.

This is the lowest total in the series thus far. Game 1 was Under 213 (Warriors 95-85), Game 2 cashed an Over 204.5 ticket (Rockets 109-94) and as mentioned, the Under hit in Game 3.

For more sports betting picks and tips, check out SportsbookWire.com and BetFTW.

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