Steph Curry Absence Felt~ Warriors blow 31-point lead, but avoid late collapse to beat Rockets in overtime, As Warriors Avoid Being NBA’s Laughingstock vs. Rockets

The Warriors squandered a 31-point lead and struggled significantly in the fourth quarter, yet managed to hang on for the win.

Facing a spirited Rockets squad led by Alperen Sengun and Jalen Green, Golden State initially hit 12 of their first 20 three-point attempts and played strong defense.

However, their first-half dominance crumbled in the second half.

Ball pressure caused problems for Warriors ball handlers, leading to disjointed offensive plays. Meanwhile, Houston’s three-point shots started to find their mark, mirroring the Warriors’ early success.

With a chance to close out the game in regulation, the Warriors allowed a three-pointer and saw Draymond Green throw away an inbounds pass. Tari Eason sent the game into overtime with two free throws after a foul that resulted in Green fouling out.

Even though Green was disqualified and Brandin Podziemski followed him just two minutes into overtime, the Warriors still had enough left to secure a thrilling victory in the final minutes.

With Buddy Hield leading the way with 27 points and six three-pointers—having been the top scorer for the Warriors in five of their last six games—Golden State secured a 127-121 victory thanks to key contributions from Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga. The bench contributed 71 points, and despite struggling from beyond the arc in the second half, the Warriors made 15 of their 31 three-point attempts.

Although Golden State’s defense struggled to contain scoring in the second half, it effectively limited Jalen Green, who was averaging 27.6 points per game, as well as Fred VanVleet. The Houston starting backcourt combined to shoot just 4-for-25, totaling only 18 points.

Buddy Hield led the charge for the Warriors with 27 points and six three-pointers, marking him as the top scorer in five of their last six games. Golden State clinched a 127-121 win, bolstered by significant efforts from Podziemski and Jonathan Kuminga. The bench contributed an impressive 71 points, and even though the team struggled with three-point shooting in the second half, they still hit 15 of 31 attempts from long range.

While Golden State’s defense had difficulties containing the scoring in the second half, it successfully restricted Jalen Green—who has been averaging 27.6 points per game—and Fred VanVleet. The Houston backcourt combined for a dismal 4-for-25 shooting performance, totaling only 18 points.

Hield hit another three-pointer and quickly raced down the court for a fast-break layup. Kuminga made an immediate impact off the bench, scoring 10 points in just his first eight minutes. The Warriors frequently trapped Jalen Green during pick-and-rolls and mixed up their defensive looks on Sengun in the post.

Golden State went on an 8-0 run to extend their lead to 59-31. Kuminga hit a pull-up three after some solid work in the paint, then found Gary Payton II in the corner for another transition three, marking the Warriors’ 11th made three-pointer out of 16 attempts.

Shooting 60% from both the field and beyond the arc, the Warriors maintained their 28-point lead into halftime.

They controlled the game’s pace, similar to their previous matchups against New Orleans, Utah, and Portland, teams that were either injury-riddled or lacking in talent. The Rockets, however, came into the game off a win against the Mavericks and had one of the deepest rosters in the league. They are well-coached, resilient, and capable of winning in various ways.

The Rockets proved to be a significant challenge, especially in the second half.

Suddenly, Houston surged back, draining several three-pointers in the third quarter to cut the deficit to 16. Then, a 16-1 run at the start of the fourth quarter left the Warriors on their heels.

While everything had clicked for Golden State in the first half, they faltered dramatically in the second, echoing many of their struggles from last season.

Five minutes into the final quarter, Eason scored on a putback to tie the game at 98. By then, the Warriors had missed 15 free throws, and it seemed they could barely get the ball past half-court against Houston’s intense pressure.

But Hield hit his sixth three-pointer, and Podziemski scored a couple of tough inside baskets to regain the lead. With two minutes remaining, Golden State held onto a four-point advantage.

A minute later, Podziemski hit a difficult 15-footer, flexing his muscles as Udoka called a timeout.

However, the game was far from over. Jabari Smith Jr. knocked down a deep three to pull the Rockets within two, and then Draymond Green committed a costly turnover on an inbounds pass with just 15 seconds left. Eason converted two free throws to tie the game, forcing it into overtime.

But Kuminga took over in overtime. He got a quick turnaround on the post to go, then finished again in transition. Out of a timeout, the Warriors cleared a side for him, and he beat his man off the dribble for a left-handed finish. Kuminga, the closer, scored six of his 23 points in overtime.

It wasn’t as convincing as it could have been. But even without Curry and De’Anthony Melton (back strain), the Warriors proved that their abundance of capable players can handle a playoff-caliber team. Whether it can hang with the league’s best will be determined later this road trip in Boston, Cleveland and Oklahoma City.