The Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets square off in a critical Game 4 matchup at Chase Center on Monday night, with the Warriors holding a narrow 2–1 series lead after reasserting themselves with a 106–96 victory in Game 3. After splitting the first two games, Golden State’s veteran core, led by Stephen Curry’s sharp shooting and playmaking, helped the Warriors regain control, while the Rockets were left searching for answers to the Warriors’ defensive adjustments and increased tempo. Golden State’s ability to spread the floor, move the ball quickly, and knock down timely three-pointers proved decisive, as Klay Thompson and Andrew Wiggins stepped up to support Curry’s offensive output, while Draymond Green anchored a much-improved defensive effort that limited Houston’s driving lanes and contested perimeter shots effectively. Houston, under head coach Ime Udoka, showed resilience throughout the regular season with a 52–30 record built largely on defensive grit and balanced scoring, but they struggled to maintain offensive rhythm in Game 3, especially under the pressure of Golden State’s aggressive trapping schemes and relentless ball movement.

The Rockets’ defensive intensity, which ranked sixth in the league during the regular season by points allowed per game, remains their calling card, and players like Jabari Smith Jr. and Alperen Şengün will need to assert themselves both on the glass and in transition to tilt the game back in Houston’s favor. Golden State, meanwhile, will look to continue leveraging its home-court advantage, where they compiled a strong 24–17 record during the season, and count on Chase Center’s energy to fuel another big performance. Statistically, both teams have been close against the spread this season, but recent trends favor Golden State slightly, especially in head-to-head matchups where the Warriors have gone 6–2 ATS against the Rockets across their last eight meetings. With the Rockets needing to find more consistent offense from secondary scorers and limit turnovers that Golden State thrives upon turning into fast-break points, the strategic battle between Steve Kerr’s spacing-heavy offensive philosophy and Udoka’s defensive schemes will be crucial in determining the outcome of Game 4. The total points line suggests another competitive game, but expect the intensity and physicality to ratchet up even further as the stakes climb, with both teams knowing that the winner of Game 4 will gain a commanding advantage heading into a pivotal Game 5 later this week.