How to watch Warriors vs. Rockets, Game 5

Golden State basketball is on the way! Come join our game thread and chat about tonight’s matchup here.

With a 3-1 series lead in hand, the Golden State Warriors will attempt to close out their first-round series against the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night. Tip-off is set for 4:30 PM PT in Houston and can be watched on TNT and NBC Sports Bay Area.

Previously with the Warriors:

Golden State took control of the series with a tough 109-106 win in Game 4 on Monday night. The physical tone of the game initially worked against them, as the Warriors trailed 57-50 at halftime. However, they flipped the script with a 13-0 run to open the third quarter, setting the stage for another “Playoff Jimmy” moment.

Jimmy Butler played the entire fourth quarter and poured in 14 of his team-high 27 points down the stretch. He also secured the game-sealing rebound on the final possession to help the Warriors secure the win.

What to watch for tonight:

Game 5 won’t come easy for Golden State, especially with the series shifting back to Houston. Three of the four games so far have been tightly contested, and with their season on the line, the Rockets will come out with urgency and aggression as they have nothing to lose.

Expect potential adjustments from the Rockets, including a possible shift to their double-big lineup that has had success throughout the series. In Game 4, that lineup—featuring two of the league’s best rebounders in Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams—helped Houston win the rebounding battle once again, 41-34.

Another argument for a possible lineup change for the Rockets is the play of Jalen Green. Aside from his 38-point explosion in Game 2, Green has scored fewer than 10 points in each of the other three games.

As for the Warriors, the defensive effort led by Draymond Green helped mitigate a relatively quiet night from Steph Curry in Game 4 (17 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the field). Green, in foul trouble for most of the night, re-entered the fourth quarter with five personal fouls, a flagrant 1, and a technical. Despite all this, he still managed to anchor the defense with the same kind of tenacity Warriors fans have seen from him in big moments throughout his career.

With a chance to advance to the second round, the Warriors know the job isn’t finished. Their experience and championship mentality have gotten them this far against a young Rockets team—but tonight, they’ll have to prove they’re still legitimate contenders by finishing the job on the road.

Enjoy the game Dub Nation. GO WARRIORS!!!

Projected Starters

Warriors: Steph Curry, Brandin Podziemski, Buddy Hield, Jimmy Butler, Draymond Green

Rockets: Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Amen Thompson, Dillon Brooks, Alperen Sengun

How to watch NBA Playoffs First Round Game 5

Who: Golden State Warriors (3 - 1) vs. Houston Rockets (1 - 3)

When: Wednesday, April 30th, at 4:30 p.m. PT

Where: Toyota Center, Houston, Texas

TV: TNT and NBC Sports Bay Area (available on fuboTV)