Despite a Game 1 loss to the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green made his playoff ambitions clear in a conversation with The Ringer‘s Logan Murdock.
“We going to make a deep run into this,” Green said. “Our expectation is get to the Finals.”
Green’s comments came after a rough shooting night in Houston’s 95-85 defeat on Sunday, where he and Fred VanVleet combined to shoot 7-for-34 from the field.
The Rockets, who entered the postseason as the No. 2 seed in the Western Conference, fell behind by 23 in the third quarter but narrowed the gap to four late in the fourth.
However, late three-pointers from Stephen Curry and Moses Moody sealed the Warriors’ win and gave them a 1-0 series lead.
Curry led Golden State with 31 points on 12-of-19 shooting, while Jimmy Butler added 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and five steals in his postseason debut with the team.
Houston’s playoff return—their first since the 2020 bubble—was marred by cold shooting and missed opportunities, including a 6-of-29 effort from beyond the arc.
Green, in his playoff debut, struggled to find rhythm but showed no hesitation in setting expectations high for his young squad.
Alperen Sengun was one of the few bright spots for Houston, recording 26 points and nine rebounds on 61% shooting.
Despite being outshot and outscored, the Rockets controlled the glass with a 52-36 rebounding edge, including 22 offensive boards.
But the team also left points at the line, missing nine free throws and committing 16 turnovers in the low-scoring contest.
Warriors head coach Steve Kerr earned his 100th career playoff win, tying him with Hall of Famer Larry Brown for sixth-most in NBA history.
Moody chipped in 11 points off the bench, while Brandin Podziemski added 14 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in a versatile effort.
Green’s confidence stands in contrast to the box score, but it reflects the mindset of a Rockets team that finished 52-30 in the regular season.
Game 2 shifts to Houston on Wednesday, where the Rockets will try to even the series before heading back to the Bay.
