In a thrilling Western Conference showdown on Sunday night, the Houston Rockets (52-27) ended the Golden State Warriors’ (46-32) five-game win streak with a commanding 106-96 victory. Dillon Brooks starred with 24 points, leading Houston to a crucial win as the team heads into the final stretch of the regular season.
The Warriors, who had been on a hot streak, struggled throughout the game, with Stephen Curry being held to a season-low three points. Curry, normally a scoring machine, shot just 1-for-10 from the field, including missing seven of eight 3-pointers. His lone bucket came late in the second quarter.
The Rockets were dominant on both ends of the court, with standout performances from Alperen Sengun, who posted a double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Jalen Green added 21 points, while Jabari Smith Jr. made a notable contribution off the bench with 16 points, despite testing his right ankle sprain before the game.
Houston’s defense also played a key role, with the Warriors failing to find their rhythm. Golden State was limited to just 41.6% shooting from the field and 37.2% from beyond the arc. The Warriors’ defense couldn’t keep up with the Rockets’ offensive firepower, as Houston shot 48.4% from the field and made 10 three-pointers.
The game featured a key moment in the third quarter when Draymond Green received a Flagrant 1 foul for a forceful driving layup into Sengun. The review determined that the contact to Sengun’s neck played a significant role in the decision, leading to Green’s ejection after accumulating five personal fouls.
Despite a strong showing from Brandin Podziemski, who led the Warriors with 19 points, the team was unable to overcome the Rockets’ balanced attack. Buddy Hield also added 20 points off the bench for Golden State, but it wasn’t enough to snap their losing streak against Houston.
The win also solidifies Houston’s position in the Western Conference, currently sitting in second place with only three games remaining in the regular season.
For Golden State, the loss was a setback as they aim to solidify their playoff positioning. Curry’s struggles, combined with the team’s overall inefficiency, proved too much to overcome.
