The Golden State Warriors secured a crucial 104-93 win over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night, taking a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series. Despite missing Jimmy Butler, who was sidelined with a pelvic injury, the Warriors saw a remarkable performance from their star, Stephen Curry, who delivered 36 points, 9 assists, and 7 rebounds.
“Yeah, it’s a big-time win. I mean, you could see we were out of sorts early. With Jimmy out, we changed the starting lineup, we went to some combinations that we’ve barely played all year. And it took a while for us to find some rhythm,” Kerr said. “But what kept us in the game was our defense. You know, they got up, I guess, 13 at the most, but, you know, these days 13 doesn’t feel like that big of a deficit.”
Despite the slow start, the Warriors surged in the second quarter. Kerr pointed to their strong finish before halftime as key. “I thought the key to the game was the way we closed the second quarter, you know, to pull within three and get some momentum,” Kerr explained. “We felt pretty good at halftime as a result.”
While Curry dominated the scoring, his teammates also stepped up. Buddy Hield contributed 17 points, including five three-pointers, while Gary Payton II delivered a key performance in the fourth quarter, scoring 11 of his 16 points to secure the win. Kerr emphasized the collective effort.
“Buddy flipped it. Gary Payton flipped it. Both those guys. But everybody contributed,” Kerr remarked. “Quinton had 12 rebounds. We had Moses come in and make a huge three in the second half. But this is what the playoffs are about. You know, they’re about injuries and they’re about guys stepping up. And we had both today with Jimmy being out.”
As for Curry, Kerr didn’t hold back in his praise for the 37-year-old superstar. “He’s incredible,” Kerr said. “To play 41 minutes against that kind of defense, to have a slow start and then find his rhythm, which we’ve seen him do countless times over the years, to hit big shots, to only turn it over twice against that kind of pressure, he was brilliant.”
Kerr also reflected on Curry’s legacy, particularly during such intense playoff games. “Want me to give you more than I do? Copy and paste. I mean, he’s Steph Curry. He’s one of the greatest players of all time,” Kerr added. “He’s one of the most well-conditioned athletes I’ve ever seen in my life.”
While Curry’s performance was the highlight, Kerr also pointed to the defense and hustle plays, including the Warriors’ second-chance opportunities. “We had more second-chance points than they did, you know, 18-11. That’s kind of stunning, given the way the first two games went. But it was an indication of our energy, our physicality, guys flying around,” Kerr noted.
Game 4 will be pivotal for both teams, and with Butler’s status still uncertain, the Warriors will rely on their depth to stay ahead in the series. Kerr remains focused on the task at hand, knowing his team’s resilience has been key throughout this playoff run.
“Steph does what superstars do in playoff games. You can’t win games without the great players in the league,” Kerr concluded. “When you go deep, the playoffs get tougher and tougher, and the great players just give the whole team confidence.”
