HOUSTON — Buddy Hield contributed 27 points as the Golden State Warriors endured a dramatic finish to secure a 127-121 overtime victory against the Houston Rockets on Saturday evening.
This win marks the Warriors’ 14th consecutive regular-season triumph over the Rockets and their eighth straight victory in Houston.
Golden State established a commanding 31-point lead during the first half. However, the Rockets surged back with an impressive 18-2 scoring run to tie the game at the start of the fourth quarter.
In overtime, the Warriors quickly scored the first six points, extending their advantage to 125-119. This win represents their third consecutive victory, all while star player Steph Curry remains sidelined due to a sprained left ankle.
At the end of regulation, the Warriors were ahead by five points when Jabari Smith Jr. hit a pivotal three-pointer, narrowing the gap to 119-117 with just 15.5 seconds left. Soon after, Aaron Holiday managed to steal the ball from Draymond Green, leading to Green’s foul out. Tari Eason then capitalized on the opportunity, sinking two free throws that pushed the game into overtime.
Eason was a standout for Houston, achieving a career-high 27 points, while Smith added 21 points to the scoreboard.
Andrew Wiggins returned to the court for the Warriors, contributing 15 points after missing two games due to a back strain.
Key Insights:
The Warriors have demonstrated their ability to triumph without Curry, now standing at 5-1 for the season in his absence. The team plans to reassess his condition on Sunday to determine the duration of his recovery.
The Rockets showed marked improvement in their second-half performance compared to a lackluster first half but fell short in their efforts to extend their winning momentum from previous victories against San Antonio and Dallas.
Highlight Moment:
Jonathan Kuminga scored the first two baskets in overtime, pushing the score to 123-119. He ended the match with 23 points to his name.
Stat of the Game:
Houston managed to convert only 1 of their 12 shooting attempts in overtime.
Next on the Schedule:
The Rockets are set to welcome the Knicks on Monday evening, while the Warriors will travel to face the Washington Wizards on the same night.
