Game ID: 42400153
Houston Rockets @ Golden State Warriors
Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 8:30 PM ET
Chase Center, San Francisco, CA
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
GSW 18 28 23 35 104HOU 22 27 22 22 93
GSW vs HOU ScoutingGSW vs HOU Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
GSW availability going into 4/11 · 1 day's restOUT Post missed 2 since 4/08, returns tonight: 16 min (101% of 15)
OUT Payton II missed 2 since 4/08, returns tonight: 14 min (93% of 15)
BACK Jackson-Davis back 4/04 after 2, 6 min since (41% of 15)
GSW availability going into 4/13 · 1 day's restBACK Post back 4/11 after 2, 16 min since (101% of 15)
BACK Payton II back 4/04 after 4, 12 min since (80% of 15)
BACK Jackson-Davis back 4/04 after 2, 5 min since (37% of 15)
GSW availability going into 4/20 · 6 days' restBACK Post back 4/11 after 2, 13 min since (84% of 15)
BACK Payton II back 4/11 after 2, 20 min since (128% of 15)
GSW availability going into 4/23 · 2 days' restOUT Kuminga missed 2 since 4/13, returns tonight: 26 min (108% of 24)
OUT Jackson-Davis missed 2 since 4/13, returns tonight: 4 min (25% of 15)
BACK Post back 4/11 after 2, 13 min since (82% of 15)
BACK Payton II back 4/11 after 2, 18 min since (120% of 15)
NEW Podziemski 28 to 33 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 4/26 · 2 days' restBACK Kuminga back 4/23 after 2, 26 min since (108% of 24)
BACK Post back 4/11 after 2, 16 min since (102% of 15)
BACK Payton II back 4/11 after 2, 17 min since (110% of 15)
BACK Jackson-Davis back 4/23 after 2, 4 min since (25% of 15)
NEW Moody 21 to 27 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 4/28 · 1 day's restBACK Kuminga back 4/23 after 2, 21 min since (89% of 24)
BACK Post back 4/11 after 2, 18 min since (117% of 15)
BACK Payton II back 4/11 after 2, 18 min since (116% of 15)
BACK Jackson-Davis back 4/23 after 2, 4 min since (25% of 15)
GSW availability going into 4/30 · 1 day's restBACK Kuminga back 4/23 after 2, 21 min since (89% of 24)
BACK Jackson-Davis back 4/23 after 2, 5 min since (32% of 15)
NEW Curry 32 to 39 min over the last 5
NEW Podziemski 28 to 33 min over the last 5
GSW availability going into 5/02 · 1 day's restOUT Kuminga missed 2 since 4/28, out tonight
BACK Jackson-Davis back 4/23 after 2, 7 min since (49% of 15)
GSW availability going into 5/04 · 1 day's restOUT Kuminga missed 3 since 4/28, returns tonight: 7 min (31% of 24)
BACK Jackson-Davis back 4/23 after 2, 6 min since (40% of 15)
NEW Post 15 to 21 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 4/11 · 1 day's restBACK Dante back 4/09 after 18, 14 min since (107% of 13)
BACK Landale back 4/09 after 2, 34 min since (294% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 4/09 after 2, 18 min since (161% of 12)
HOU availability going into 4/13 · 1 day's restOUT VanVleet missed 2 since 4/09, returns tonight: 27 min (76% of 36)
OUT Thompson missed 2 since 4/09, returns tonight: 26 min (81% of 32)
OUT Sengun missed 2 since 4/09, returns tonight: 24 min (74% of 32)
OUT Brooks missed 2 since 4/09, returns tonight: 22 min (70% of 32)
OUT Smith Jr. missed 2 since 4/09, out tonight
OUT Adams missed 2 since 4/09, returns tonight: 17 min (116% of 15)
BACK Dante back 4/09 after 18, 14 min since (110% of 13)
BACK Landale back 4/09 after 2, 29 min since (252% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 4/09 after 2, 20 min since (176% of 12)
NEW Sheppard 12 to 18 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 4/20 · 6 days' restOUT Smith Jr. missed 3 since 4/09, returns tonight: 25 min (88% of 29)
OUT Tate missed 2 since 4/11, out tonight
BACK VanVleet back 4/13 after 2, 27 min since (76% of 36)
BACK Thompson back 4/13 after 2, 26 min since (81% of 32)
BACK Sengun back 4/13 after 2, 24 min since (74% of 32)
BACK Brooks back 4/13 after 2, 22 min since (70% of 32)
BACK Adams back 4/13 after 2, 17 min since (116% of 15)
BACK Dante back 4/09 after 18, 11 min since (84% of 13)
BACK Landale back 4/09 after 2, 23 min since (195% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 4/09 after 2, 17 min since (150% of 12)
NEW Sheppard 12 to 19 min over the last 5
HOU availability going into 4/23 · 2 days' restOUT Tate missed 3 since 4/11, out tonight
BACK VanVleet back 4/13 after 2, 34 min since (95% of 36)
BACK Thompson back 4/13 after 2, 30 min since (92% of 32)
BACK Sengun back 4/13 after 2, 30 min since (93% of 32)
BACK Brooks back 4/13 after 2, 28 min since (89% of 32)
BACK Smith Jr. back 4/20 after 3, 25 min since (88% of 29)
BACK Adams back 4/13 after 2, 18 min since (124% of 15)
BACK Dante back 4/09 after 18, 11 min since (84% of 13)
BACK Landale back 4/09 after 2, 23 min since (195% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 4/09 after 2, 17 min since (150% of 12)
NEW Whitmore 15 to 22 min over the last 4
NEW Sheppard 12 to 24 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 4/26 · 2 days' restOUT Landale missed 2 since 4/20, out tonight
OUT Tate missed 4 since 4/11, out tonight
BACK VanVleet back 4/13 after 2, 37 min since (103% of 36)
BACK Thompson back 4/13 after 2, 27 min since (85% of 32)
BACK Sengun back 4/13 after 2, 32 min since (101% of 32)
BACK Brooks back 4/13 after 2, 27 min since (85% of 32)
BACK Smith Jr. back 4/20 after 3, 25 min since (85% of 29)
BACK Adams back 4/13 after 2, 18 min since (120% of 15)
BACK Dante back 4/09 after 18, 11 min since (84% of 13)
BACK Jef. Green back 4/09 after 2, 13 min since (117% of 12)
NEW Whitmore 15 to 22 min over the last 4
NEW Sheppard 12 to 24 min over the last 4
HOU availability going into 4/28 · 1 day's restOUT Landale missed 3 since 4/20, out tonight
OUT Tate missed 5 since 4/11, out tonight
BACK VanVleet back 4/13 after 2, 38 min since (105% of 36)
BACK Thompson back 4/13 after 2, 30 min since (92% of 32)
BACK Sengun back 4/13 after 2, 32 min since (102% of 32)
BACK Brooks back 4/13 after 2, 27 min since (86% of 32)
BACK Smith Jr. back 4/20 after 3, 25 min since (86% of 29)
BACK Adams back 4/13 after 2, 18 min since (121% of 15)
NEW Sheppard 12 to 20 min over the last 3
HOU availability going into 4/30 · 1 day's restOUT Whitmore missed 2 since 4/26, returns tonight: 2 min (11% of 15)
OUT Holiday missed 2 since 4/26, returns tonight: 16 min (130% of 13)
OUT Sheppard missed 2 since 4/26, returns tonight: 7 min (55% of 12)
OUT Landale missed 4 since 4/20, returns tonight: 5 min (41% of 12)
OUT Jef. Green missed 2 since 4/26, returns tonight: 2 min (15% of 12)
OUT Tate missed 6 since 4/11, out tonight
BACK VanVleet back 4/13 after 2, 38 min since (107% of 36)
BACK Thompson back 4/13 after 2, 30 min since (93% of 32)
BACK Sengun back 4/13 after 2, 34 min since (108% of 32)
BACK Brooks back 4/13 after 2, 29 min since (92% of 32)
BACK Smith Jr. back 4/20 after 3, 24 min since (84% of 29)
BACK Adams back 4/13 after 2, 20 min since (132% of 15)
HOU availability going into 5/02 · 1 day's restOUT Tate missed 7 since 4/11, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 4/20 after 3, 23 min since (78% of 29)
BACK Whitmore back 4/30 after 2, 2 min since (11% of 15)
BACK Holiday back 4/30 after 2, 16 min since (130% of 13)
BACK Sheppard back 4/30 after 2, 7 min since (55% of 12)
BACK Landale back 4/30 after 4, 5 min since (41% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 4/30 after 2, 2 min since (15% of 12)
HOU availability going into 5/04 · 1 day's restOUT Tate missed 8 since 4/11, out tonight
BACK Whitmore back 4/30 after 2, 2 min since (10% of 15)
BACK Holiday back 4/30 after 2, 11 min since (87% of 13)
BACK Sheppard back 4/30 after 2, 4 min since (32% of 12)
BACK Landale back 4/30 after 4, 5 min since (41% of 12)
BACK Jef. Green back 4/30 after 2, 2 min since (14% of 12)
NEW Adams 15 to 22 min over the last 5
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 104, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 22 free throws a game; Curry at 26 and Butler III at 22 a game. It has lost the glass by 10 a night. 2 days' rest. Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 118, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 15 free throws a game; Sengun at 19 and Whitmore at 14 a game. 2 days' rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-3 a night and Golden State minus-10 and the defense, Golden State allowing 104 a night to Houston's 118. Call it Golden State 112, Houston 108, Houston keeping it close.
4/11 @ POR 103-86 — GSW notes
GSW won 103-86. GSW shot 40% (33 of 83) to POR's 38%, 14 of 44 from three, and went to the line 28 times to POR's 22 — 23 points from the stripe to their 16. GSW turned it over 14 times to POR's 22. Butler III led with 24 (6 of 10, 11 of 11 at the line); Hield added 16, Curry 14. The hinge was Q2, 24-17: a lead of 6 became 13, and the lead reached 27. Podziemski was the night's best plus/minus at +31.
4/13 vs LAC 119-124 — GSW notes
GSW lost 119-124 in 1 overtime. GSW shot 54% (43 of 79) to LAC's 56%, 15 of 33 from three. The glass went 25-42 against them. Curry led with 36 (10 of 20, 7 of 12 from three, 9 of 9 at the line); Butler III added 30, Podziemski 19. Q1 was theirs, 33-25, but the other 4 periods went 99-86 against them. They led by as many as 12. Curry's -16 in 38 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/20 @ HOU 95-85 — GSW notes
GSW won 95-85. GSW shot 47% (36 of 76) to HOU's 39%, 12 of 32 from three, and got to the line 14 times to HOU's 20. GSW turned it over 11 times to HOU's 16. The glass went 36-52 against them. Curry led with 31 (12 of 19, 5 of 9 from three); Butler III added 25, Podziemski 14. The hinge was Q2, 29-13: GSW came in trailing by 3 and left it ahead by 13, and the lead reached 23. Podziemski was the night's best plus/minus at +17.
4/23 @ HOU 94-109 — GSW notes
GSW lost 94-109. GSW shot 41% (33 of 80) to HOU's 45%, 17 of 43 from three. GSW turned it over 15 times to HOU's 10, and HOU turned those into 9 steals. The glass went 33-47 against them. Curry led with 20 (6 of 15, 4 of 9 from three); Post added 12, Moody 12. Q4 was theirs, 23-22, the deficit cut from 16 to 15, but the other 3 periods went 87-71 against them. Green's -13 in 31 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/26 vs HOU 104-93 — GSW notes
GSW won 104-93. GSW shot 43% (39 of 90) to HOU's 40%, 14 of 45 from three, and got to the line 15 times to HOU's 24. Curry led with 36 (12 of 23, 5 of 13 from three, 7 of 8 at the line); Hield added 17, Payton II 16. The hinge was Q4, 35-22: GSW came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 11. GSW trailed 46-49 at the half and won the second half 58-44. Curry was the night's best plus/minus at +18.
4/28 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 99, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Curry at 27 and Butler III at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. One day's rest. Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 112, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Sengun at 18 and Whitmore at 15 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-6 a night and Golden State minus-12 and the defense, Golden State allowing 99 a night to Houston's 112. Call it Golden State 111, Houston 104.
4/30 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 106, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sengun at 21 and VanVleet at 15 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Whitmore (2 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 103, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Curry at 28 and Butler III at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-8 a night and Golden State minus-12. Call it Houston 108, Golden State 107, Golden State keeping it close.
5/02 vs HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 105, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Curry at 23 and Butler III at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Kuminga (2 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 104, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Sengun at 21 and VanVleet at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-7 a night and Golden State minus-7 and the line, where Houston takes 27 free throws a game to Golden State's 18. Call it Golden State 109, Houston 107, Houston keeping it close.
5/04 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 41 from three, 32 free throws a game; VanVleet at 21 and Sengun at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 111, shooting 42 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Curry at 23 and Butler III at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Kuminga (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the line, where Houston takes 32 free throws a game to Golden State's 20 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-4 a night and Golden State minus-4. Call it Houston 113, Golden State 107.
4/11 @ LAL 109-140 — HOU notes
HOU lost 109-140. HOU shot 46% (41 of 90) to LAL's 61%, 18 of 51 from three, and got to the line 12 times to LAL's 25. HOU turned it over 18 times to LAL's 12, and LAL turned those into 11 steals. Whitmore led with 34 (13 of 19, 7 of 12 from three); Sheppard added 14, Williams 12. Q3 was theirs, 31-29, the deficit cut from 22 to 20, but the other 3 periods went 111-78 against them. Sheppard's -27 in 41 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/13 vs DEN 111-126 — HOU notes
HOU lost 111-126. HOU took 12 more shots (100 to 88), fed by 16 offensive rebounds, but shot 45% to DEN's 51%, 12 of 34 from three, and got to the line 14 times to DEN's 31. VanVleet led with 15 (5 of 13, 3 of 8 from three); Thompson added 15, Sengun 14. Q4 was theirs, 40-24, the deficit cut from 31 to 15, but the other 3 periods went 102-71 against them. Adams's -23 in 17 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/20 vs GSW 85-95 — HOU notes
HOU lost 85-95. HOU took 11 more shots (87 to 76), fed by 22 offensive rebounds, but shot 39% to GSW's 47%, 6 of 29 from three, and went to the line 20 times to GSW's 14 — 11 points from the stripe to their 11. HOU turned it over 16 times to GSW's 11, and GSW turned those into 14 steals. The glass went 52-36 for them. Sengun led with 26 (11 of 18); Brooks added 11, Smith Jr. 11. Q3 was theirs, 26-22, the deficit cut from 13 to 9, but the other 3 periods went 73-59 against them. Thompson's -16 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/23 vs GSW 109-94 — HOU notes
HOU won 109-94. HOU shot 45% (39 of 86) to GSW's 41%, 15 of 40 from three. HOU turned it over 10 times to GSW's 15. The glass went 47-33 for them. Ja. Green led with 38 (13 of 25, 8 of 18 from three); Sengun added 17, Brooks 16. The hinge was Q1, 28-18: from level to 10 ahead, and the lead reached 20. Sengun was the night's best plus/minus at +28.
4/26 @ GSW 93-104 — HOU notes
HOU lost 93-104. HOU shot 40% (34 of 86) to GSW's 43%, 11 of 28 from three, and went to the line 24 times to GSW's 15 — 14 points from the stripe to their 12. VanVleet led with 17 (5 of 14, 3 of 9 from three); Sengun added 15, Brooks 13. Q1 was theirs, 22-18, but the other 3 periods went 86-71 against them. They led by as many as 13. VanVleet's -16 in 41 minutes was the worst on the floor.
4/28 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 103 a night and allowing 99, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 20 free throws a game; Curry at 27 and Butler III at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. One day's rest. Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 112, shooting 43 percent and 34 from three, 18 free throws a game; Sengun at 18 and Whitmore at 15 a game. It has won the glass by 6 a night. One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-6 a night and Golden State minus-12 and the defense, Golden State allowing 99 a night to Houston's 112. Call it Golden State 111, Houston 104.
4/30 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 101 a night and allowing 106, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Sengun at 21 and VanVleet at 15 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Whitmore (2 straight). One day's rest. Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 103, shooting 45 percent and 38 from three, 18 free throws a game; Curry at 28 and Butler III at 21 a game. It has lost the glass by 12 a night. One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-8 a night and Golden State minus-12. Call it Houston 108, Golden State 107, Golden State keeping it close.
5/02 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 105, shooting 43 percent and 36 from three, 18 free throws a game; Curry at 23 and Butler III at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Kuminga (2 straight). One day's rest. Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 105 a night and allowing 104, shooting 45 percent and 37 from three, 27 free throws a game; Sengun at 21 and VanVleet at 17 a game. It has won the glass by 7 a night. One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Houston has been plus-7 a night and Golden State minus-7 and the line, where Houston takes 27 free throws a game to Golden State's 18. Call it Golden State 109, Houston 107, Houston keeping it close.
5/04 vs GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 106, shooting 47 percent and 41 from three, 32 free throws a game; VanVleet at 21 and Sengun at 20 a game. It has won the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest. Golden State comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 111, shooting 42 percent and 34 from three, 20 free throws a game; Curry at 23 and Butler III at 16 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. Without Kuminga (3 straight). One day's rest.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the line, where Houston takes 32 free throws a game to Golden State's 20 and the glass, where Houston has been plus-4 a night and Golden State minus-4. Call it Houston 113, Golden State 107.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
GSWBH B. Hield
BP B. Podziemski
DG D. Green
GP G. Payton II
JK J. Kuminga
KL K. Looney
MM M. Moody
QP Q. Post
SC S. Curry
HOUAS A. Sengun
AT A. Thompson
DB D. Brooks
FV F. VanVleet
JG J. Green
JS J. Smith Jr.
JG Ja. Green
SA S. Adams
TE T. Eason
GSW/HOU the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
Stephen Curry heats up with Jimmy Butler out, scores 36 as Warriors beat Rockets 104-93 for 2-1 lead
SAN FRANCISCO -- — Playoff Steph delivered while Playoff Jimmy became his biggest cheerleader on the bench, dressed in a full-length fur coat.
Stephen Curry eventually found his shooting groove while Houston tried everything to stop him, finishing with 36 points, nine assists and seven rebounds to lead the Golden State Warriors past the Rockets 104-93 on Saturday night without Jimmy Butler for a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series.
“To play 41 minutes against that kind of defense, to have a slow start and then find his rhythm, which we have seen him do countless times over the years, to hit big shots, to only turn it over twice against that kind of pressure, he was brilliant," coach Steve Kerr said.
Buddy Hield had 17 points off the bench with five 3-pointers as the Warriors won their sixth straight Game 3 in the opening round. Gary Payton II scored 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter.
“To see everyone step up in his absence was huge,” Draymond Green said.
Game 4 in the best-of-seven series is Monday night at Chase Center. The biggest question will be whether Butler can heal in time to contribute.
The Warriors missed their do-everything forward after he suffered a pelvic injury and deep gluteal muscle contusion in a hard fall during Game 2 .
“You’ve got one task,” Curry said of the team coming together with Butler out. “Hopefully he’s back next game, or if he’s not we can still play at a high level, we can win a tough, physical playoff game. I think we all know, we’re trying to win 14 more of these. We need Jimmy to do that.”
Fred VanVleet hit consecutive 3-pointers and had a three-point play to score Houston's initial nine points and wound up with 17. Alperen Sengun added 15 points and 11 rebounds.
The Warriors figured out how to create better space for Curry, who has 4,053 career playoff points and passed Tony Parker (4,045) for 10th most in NBA history.
The 37-year-old star missed his three 3-point tries in the opening period as Golden State went 2 for 13 from long range, finally connecting from deep 5:16 before halftime. His 13-point second quarter helped pull Golden State within 49-46 at the break after trailing by 13.
“I thought the key to the game was the way we closed the second quarter,” Kerr said.
Dillon Brooks fouled out with 3:47 left a day after he defended Amen Thompson 's foul on Butler that led to the injury and called Green a “dirty” player.
Thompson, Brooks and all the Rockets were booed during pregame introductions.
Then Brooks fouled Curry 11 seconds into the game. He picked up his second foul at the 5:24 mark of the first quarter, delighting the crowd. The fans were equally thrilled when Sengun drove to the basket and badly missed when trying for a one-handed slam late in the first. Brooks had four fouls by halftime.