In a hard-fought Game 3 against the Golden State Warriors, the Houston Rockets fell short, losing 104-93 and now trail the series 2-1. Despite a strong start, the Rockets struggled to maintain their momentum, particularly on defense, as Stephen Curry and Gary Payton II led the Warriors to a second-half comeback.
Ime Udoka, Houston’s head coach, pointed to communication breakdowns as one of the main factors in the loss. “The communication off the ball with Red’s was really off,” Udoka said, acknowledging that the team had the offensive flow but faltered in crucial defensive moments.
While the Rockets built a solid lead early in the game, they allowed Golden State to capitalize, especially in the second quarter, where the Warriors erased a deficit and tied the game by halftime.
One of the biggest challenges for the Rockets was the defensive pressure on Curry. The team focused on getting the ball out of Curry’s hands, but the execution was inconsistent. “It wasn’t the best, especially in the second quarter,” Udoka explained. He also addressed the team’s struggles in the paint, where Houston was inefficient, shooting just 19-for-48 in the lane.
Fred VanVleet, who had a hot start with back-to-back three-pointers, was largely quiet for the remainder of the game. He ended with 17 points, but Udoka noted the team’s inability to capitalize on defensive switches. “We’ve been going after him and Jalen quite a bit in the pick-and-roll, and we didn’t do a good enough job making them pay tonight,” Udoka said, highlighting missed opportunities around the basket.
On the offensive side, Udoka acknowledged that the team missed a number of easy looks. “We missed a lot of point-blank stuff at the basket—little floaters and some layups,” he said. This inefficiency allowed Golden State to tighten its defense down the stretch, where Payton and others made pivotal plays to seal the victory.
Looking ahead, Udoka is confident that the issues are fixable. “It’s something you can easily correct,” he stated, emphasizing better ball movement, finding open outlets, and converting high-percentage shots. The Rockets also need to improve their second-chance opportunities, having been out-rebounded 16-4 in that category.
As the Rockets prepare for Game 4, Udoka remains focused on his team’s growth. “When you do your job and have two on the ball, you’ve got to make them pay behind it,” he said. The team’s ability to bounce back and execute under pressure will be key as they look to even the series on Monday night at Chase Center.
