This was the road game the Rockets needed to capitalize on. Jimmy Butler, sidelined with a pelvic contusion from his fall in Game 2, sat on the bench in a brown sweatsuit. Without him, the Warriors weren’t the same force.
Instead, it turned into the Stephen Curry show, as he took control in the second half and put up 36 points against Houston’s long, athletic defense.
With the win, the Warriors now lead the series 2-1, with Game 4 set for Monday night in the Bay Area. Jimmy Butler could be back for that game, and if the Warriors manage to win with him on the court, it will feel like the Rockets missed their best opportunity.
Houston led for most of the first half, at one point building a 13-point advantage.
The momentum shift for the Warriors came thanks to Buddy Hield, who started sinking three-pointers in the first half and chipped away at the Rockets’ lead.
It turned into a tough night for Houston. Despite being a defense-first team, they repeatedly lost track of Curry, giving him too much space. Their half-court offense also stalled for long stretches.
The Warriors adjusted from Game 2, when Jalen Green erupted for 38 points, by making him face constant defensive pressure. Fred VanVleet led the Rockets with 17 points (13 coming in the first quarter), while Alperen Sengun contributed 15 points and 11 rebounds. Still, Houston couldn’t find enough scoring.
The Rockets briefly reclaimed the lead at 84-83 with 5:47 remaining, but the Warriors responded with a 21-9 run to close the game, sparked by Curry.
Houston will need to rediscover their offensive rhythm by Monday, or they’ll be staring at elimination.
