After the Golden State Warriors’ 106-96 loss to the Houston Rockets on Sunday, Steph Curry shared his thoughts on the game, the team’s struggles, and what they can learn from the setback. The loss snapped the Warriors’ five-game win streak and came as a surprise after their recent strong performances.
Curry acknowledged that it was a tough night for his team, particularly after their recent success. “You just got to have perspective on the positives of what we’ve been able to build,” he said. Despite the loss, Curry emphasized that the Warriors’ confidence remains high heading into the postseason. “We won a lot of tough games, we’ve strung together great performances, and we’re still that team that’s confident we can beat anybody.”
The Rockets were relentless throughout the game, and Curry struggled to find his rhythm. The two-time MVP was held to just three points, shooting a dismal 1-for-10 from the field. His shooting woes were a major factor in the Warriors’ inability to recover from the Rockets’ strong defense.
“They played great, we had some moments, but you’ve got to maintain the confidence that we’re building towards our best selves come playoff time,” Curry continued. While the Warriors showed flashes of their usual brilliance, the Rockets’ defense and the Warriors’ turnovers proved too much to overcome.
The Rockets, with their young and athletic lineup, made things difficult for Curry, especially with Amen Thompson guarding him. Curry gave Thompson credit for his defensive efforts. “He’s kind of relentless, he’s a supreme athlete, and he’s found his lane in how he can be impactful,” Curry said. “You tip your hat to him – he’s gotten a lot better every time you face him.”
The game was also marked by an intense moment when Draymond Green was ejected after a Flagrant 1 foul in the third quarter. The foul came after a forceful layup into Alperen Sengun, and the review determined that the contact to Sengun’s neck warranted the ejection. Curry, however, remained focused on the bigger picture. “We had some moments,” Curry noted. “But we’ve got to take better care of the ball. When you give them run-out layups, it makes anybody tough to guard.”
Houston’s defense was stellar throughout the game. Despite solid performances from Brandin Podziemski (19 points) and Buddy Hield (20 points off the bench), the Warriors struggled to overcome their shooting woes. Golden State shot just 41.6% from the field and 37.2% from three, while the Rockets shot 48.4% from the field and made 10 three-pointers.
Curry’s struggles, combined with the Rockets’ overall efficiency, meant the Warriors couldn’t mount a serious challenge in the second half. Despite some signs of life, particularly from the bench, the Rockets were simply too much for Golden State.
As for the playoff race, the loss didn’t seem to phase Curry’s long-term outlook. “They’re the second seed in the West, so they’re a really good team,” he acknowledged. “They’ve been beating teams all year in different ways, so you’ve got to take them seriously. We don’t carry any stuff from the past. Whatever happens in the future, we’ll cross that path when we get there.”
For the Warriors, it’s back to the drawing board as they look to bounce back from this defeat. Despite the loss, Curry remains confident that Golden State will be ready when it matters most: during the playoffs.
