HOUSTON – Within the week main as much as Sunday’s first-round sequence opener between the Warriors and host Houston, a lot was made about how the Rockets had held Steph Curry to only three factors on 1-of-10 capturing of their April 6 matchup.
Had the uber-athletic Rockets found out the sport’s best shooter? The reply ended up being a convincing “no” in Golden State’s tight 95-85 victory.
When hounded by Amen Thompson and the identical Houston wings who had vexed him at Chase Middle, Curry schooled the younger Rockets within the rematch en path to 31 factors.
He burned defenders on back-cuts, sank comfortable floaters over their bigs and nailed 5 high-arcing 3-pointers, together with a jaw-dropping fadeaway from the nook halfway by the third quarter.
However not even Curry at his incendiary greatest was sufficient to tug away from the Rockets, at the very least immediately.
It took a late surge by Jimmy Butler, who scored seven of his 25 factors within the remaining two minutes, to clinch the win.
Golden State Warriors ahead Jimmy Butler III (10) dunks throughout the second half of Sport 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff sequence towards the Houston Rockets in Houston, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photograph/Ashley Landis)
The Rockets performed tight man-to-man protection on the Warriors’ star scorers, and had bigs Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams park themselves within the paint whereas daring Golden State’s nook shooter to make them pay.
The Warriors struggled to generate offense early, falling behind 19-12 earlier than Curry started to seek out cracks within the Rockets’ protection. He made two layups late within the quarter to assist Golden State pull to 21-18 after one interval.
The groups battled it out within the second quarter as nicely, however Curry made two late 3-pointers and Butler canned a troublesome basket over Sengun to key a 9-0 half-ending run to place the Warriors up 47-34 at halftime.
Golden State led by as a lot as 23 halfway by the third quarter, however Houston didn’t go quietly into the Texas night time. A 7-0 run highlighted by a drifting Alperen Sengun triple towards an expiring shot clock stored Houston within the sport.
Curry ended the run with a pull-up midrange jumper, however the Rockets continued to chop into the lead due to a number of large offensive rebounds by Steven Adams.
Houston grabbed 22 offensive rebounds to Golden State’s six, with these second and third possibilities maintaining the house group within the sport. The Warriors’ once-formidable lead was minimize to 69-60 on the finish of the third quarter.
Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors makes an attempt a lay up towards the Houston Rockets throughout the fourth quarter in Sport One of many Western Convention First Spherical NBA Playoffs at Toyota Middle on April 20, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photograph by Alex Slitz/Getty Pictures)
Curry pushed the lead again to 72-62 with one other deep 3-pointer early within the fourth. After Houston answered and minimize the result in simply 4, Gary Payton II knifed inside for 2 layups to offer Golden State respiration room with eight minutes remaining.
Houston answered proper again with a Jabari Smith Jr. triple. Houston minimize the lead all the way in which all the way down to 76-73 when Thompson made a midrange shot over Curry.
However the Warriors went on an 8-2 run to go up 84-75 and retake some degree of management with 3:23 left.
Butler and Curry closed issues out from there in a sport that was simply as gritty because the final showdown between the groups.
Golden State gained the regular-season sequence 3-2, however the Rockets smothered Curry and the Warriors 106-96 within the final matchup of the season.
Sunday’s sport had a markedly totally different end result.
The groups will play Sport 2 on Wednesday night time.
Brandin Podziemski #2 of the Golden State Warriors is defended by Fred VanVleet #5 of the Houston Rockets throughout the third quarter in Sport One of many Western Convention First Spherical NBA Playoffs at Toyota Middle on April 20, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photograph by Alex Slitz/Getty Pictures)
Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors walks off the court docket following the 95-85 win towards the Houston Rockets in Sport One of many Western Convention First Spherical NBA Playoffs at Toyota Middle on April 20, 2025 in Houston, Texas. (Photograph by Alex Slitz/Getty Pictures)
Initially Printed: April 20, 2025 at 9:02 PM PDT
