Stephen Curry led the Golden State Warriors to a 104-93 victory over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night, scoring a game-high 36 points. This win gives the Warriors a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series in San Francisco, despite the absence of injured star Jimmy Butler III.
The Warriors had to adjust quickly after learning Butler wouldn’t play due to a glute contusion he suffered in Game 2. Curry praised his teammates for stepping up in Butler’s absence, saying, “Everybody just stepped up and played for Jimmy. Hopefully, he’s back soon.”
The game started slowly for the Warriors, who managed just 18 points in the first quarter. However, they rallied late in the second quarter, scoring the last nine points to close the gap to 49-46 at halftime. The second half was tightly contested, with the Rockets briefly taking the lead in the fourth quarter. A three-pointer from Dillon Brooks put Houston ahead 84-83, but Gary Payton II sparked a decisive run for Golden State.
Payton, who had been scoreless in Game 2, scored nine points in a crucial stretch, including a layup that gave the Warriors the lead. Curry added a three-pointer and a dunk from Payton helped secure the victory. Curry also contributed seven rebounds and nine assists, marking his 60th career playoff game with at least 30 points.
Curry’s performance was complemented by Buddy Hield, who scored 17 points with five three-pointers, and rookie Quinten Post, who grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds in his first playoff start. Draymond Green also made an impact with seven points, eight rebounds, and strong defensive plays.
For the Rockets, Fred VanVleet led with 17 points, while Alperen Sengun added a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Despite the loss, Houston showed resilience but struggled with their defensive coverage against Curry.
With this win, the Warriors have a chance to go up 3-1 in the series with another home game scheduled for Monday. The team is looking to capitalize on their momentum and continue their playoff journey without Butler for the time being.