Stephen Curry scored 27 points as the Golden State Warriors (28-27) held off the Houston Rockets (34-21) for a 105-98 victory on Thursday night at Toyota Center in front of 18,000 fans. The Warriors have now won six of their last ten games, improving their position in the Western Conference standings.
Golden State set the tone early, jumping out to a 28-19 lead after the first quarter behind Curry’s perimeter shooting and Jimmy Butler’s aggressive play. The Warriors extended their advantage in the second quarter, outscoring Houston 34-29 to take a 62-48 lead into halftime.
Golden State led by as many as 24 points before Houston cut the deficit to two in the fourth quarter. The Warriors responded with an 11-2 run, highlighted by Curry’s step-back three over Jeff Green and a two-handed dunk from Jimmy Butler.
Curry finished with 27 points on 7-of-17 shooting, hitting five three-pointers and making 8-of-9 free throws. Brandin Podziemski added 18 points, five rebounds, and four assists, while Butler contributed 19 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Draymond Green had 13 points, eight assists, and four rebounds, providing stability in the paint.
Since joining Golden State, Butler has been a key piece in today’s NBA starting lineups, averaging 22 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists in 31.7 minutes per game. His production has increased significantly from his time with the Miami Heat, where he averaged 17 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.8 assists in 30.6 minutes per game.
The Rockets struggled offensively, shooting just 55.6% from the free-throw line and committing 20 turnovers. Aaron Holiday led Houston with 25 points, shooting 10-of-20 from the field, while Alperen Sengun posted a double-double with 10 points, 13 rebounds, and four assists. Jalen Green managed just nine points in 22 minutes before being benched in the fourth quarter.
Houston head coach Ime Udoka benched Green, Sengun, and Dillon Brooks for the final period, opting for his second unit. Nate Williams, playing in just his sixth game this season, contributed 11 points and three assists off the bench. Jock Landale added 13 points and eight rebounds, while veteran Jeff Green chipped in 10 points.
Golden State shot 39.3% from the field and 26.8% from three but capitalized on Houston’s mistakes. The Warriors outscored the Rockets 24-10 at the free-throw line, with Curry and Butler combining to make 14-of-15 from the stripe. Kevon Looney provided a strong presence off the bench with nine rebounds in just under 16 minutes.
The victory keeps Golden State in 10th place in the Western Conference, tied with the Sacramento Kings for the ninth seed. The Warriors are now 1.5 games behind the eighth-seeded Dallas Mavericks (30-26) as they push for a higher playoff position.
Houston, after spending much of the season as the second seed, has slipped to fourth in the West after losing seven of their last ten games. The Rockets now sit two games behind the Denver Nuggets (36-19), 2.5 games behind the Memphis Grizzlies (36-18), and 10.5 games back of the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder (44-10).
