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2025 NBA Playoffs – 7th-Seeded Warriors Become Second Team in 30 Seasons To Have Higher Odds Over No. 2 Seed in Playoffs First Round

The Warriors, seeded seventh, have better odds of winning the first round over the second-seed Rockets.

Image Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images

The Golden State Warriors, who paved their way into the 2025 NBA Playoffs on the back of a win over the Grizzlies in a close-contested clash, have achieved a unique feat. They are the second seventh-seeded team in over 30 seasons to have more favorable odds over a second-seed team in the first round of the playoffs.

The Warriors will be up against the second-seeded Houston Rockets from Sunday, April 20 in the first-round clash of the playoffs. Despite being a lower-seeded team, they are more favorable to win the seven-game series and move a step closer to the championship title. According to BetMGM, Steph Curry and Co. are favored to win the series with the odds of -190, whereas their rivals have the odds of +160.

They are also heavily likely to win the series 4-2 with the odds of +310 and to win 4-1 with the odds of +450. With this, the Dubs are the second seventh-seeded team in the last 30 seasons to have higher odds than a second seed. Earlier in 2021, the seventh-seeded Lakers were more favored over the No. 2 seed Suns after they won the 2020 title.

However, the Suns won the series in six games and eventually made it to the NBA Finals before slumping to the Bucks. Notably, the Warriors were handed a 124-119 loss by the Los Angeles Clippers in the final regular season game. They locked horns with the Memphis Grizzlies in the first-round clash of the SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament and took them down 121-116 to clinch their playoffs’ ticket.

JUST IN: The Warriors are early favorites to defeat the Rockets in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. pic.twitter.com/yeNfHkAyDy
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) April 16, 2025

Also Read: Do NBA teams get bonuses for reaching Play-In tournament?

“We Have To Follow the Game Plan”- Rockets’ Coach Ime Udoka Ahead of First-Round Clash Against Warriors

Ahead of the first-round clash against the Warriors, the Rockets’ coach Ime Udoka opened up on the team’s strategies and said that they are paying attention to details. He said, “Attention detail and great execution! Golden State does some unique things, and we have to lock in on that. We have to follow the game plan and be specific on how to guard certain actions and players.”

While the Rockets enter the playoffs as the underdogs, the Warriors wouldn’t want to underestimate them. They are ranked fifth in defensive ratings behind the Boston Celtics, LA Clippers, Orlando Magic, and the Oklahoma City Thunder, with the rating of 110.3. It will be the fifth time in 11 years that the Rockets will lock horns with the seven-time champions in the playoffs.

While the Dubs enter as a veteran team, the Rockets have a young squad. The forthcoming series is expected to be fun and intense, and both sides will aim to put on their best show to advance a step closer to the coveted trophy.

Also Read: Golden State Warriors’ Playoffs History – How Many Times Have the Warriors made it to the Postseason?

2025 NBA Playoffs

Golden State Warriors

Houston Rockets

Garima Ranawat

Garima is a sports writer with around two years of experience in Indian sports and a newfound interest in the NBA. Inspired by the leadership of cricketing legend MS Dhoni, she wishes to bring in newer perspectives to the NBA fanatics with her writing.