HOUSTON — In an intense matchup on Thursday night, Stephen Curry led the Golden State Warriors to a 105-98 victory over the Houston Rockets. Curry tallied 27 points, helping the Warriors fend off a late charge from the Rockets.
Golden State faced a narrow two-point lead when they ignited an 11-2 run, extending their advantage to 102-91 with around two minutes left on the clock. During this crucial stretch, Curry showcased his skills with a dazzling 3-pointer over Jeff Green, and shortly after, Jimmy Butler electrified the visitors’ bench with a powerful two-handed dunk.
The Warriors had built a substantial lead, reaching as high as 24 points at one stage. However, Houston’s head coach Ime Udoka expressed his frustration with the lackluster performance of his starting lineup, opting to bench Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, and Dillon Brooks as the fourth quarter began. This decision allowed the Rockets’ bench players to spark a 16-6 run, bringing the score to a closer 88-86 with seven minutes remaining in the game. Nate Williams notably contributed to this surge, netting seven points during this stretch despite being in just his sixth game of the season.
Udoka ultimately chose not to bring back his starters for the remainder of the game, with Aaron Holiday stepping up to lead the Rockets with a career-high tying 25 points. Despite the effort, Houston faced its seventh loss in the last nine games.
In examining the performance of both teams, the takeaway for the Warriors is that Butler is adapting well to his new environment, showing promising signs in his early games with Golden State. For the Rockets, it is essential for the team’s main players to elevate their performance after the upcoming break if they aim to maintain playoff contention in the Western Conference, marking their first potential playoff appearance since 2020.
A pivotal moment in the game occurred when Curry sank a 3-pointer over Jeff Green, solidifying the Warriors’ command during their critical run late in the contest. Notably, Butler finished the game with 19 points, after having scored over 20 in his initial three outings since being traded from Miami.
Looking ahead, the Rockets plan to resume their season post-All-Star break with a home game against the Timberwolves on February 21, while the Warriors will navigate to face the Kings on the same night.
