The Houston Rockets extended their season Wednesday night with a 131-116 Game 5 victory over the Golden State Warriors, and head coach Ime Udoka made it clear that the win came down to discipline on both ends.
Speaking postgame, Udoka emphasized that the Rockets succeeded by improving their “physicality, attention to detail, focus, effort, and communication” — elements he said the team had been inconsistent with earlier in the series.
Houston raced to a 40-24 first-quarter lead and never looked back, thanks to Fred VanVleet’s 26 points and Amen Thompson’s 25.
Udoka credited Thompson’s defense on Stephen Curry, who was held to just 13 points, saying the forward “picked him a few times” and helped lead a full team effort.
Despite Curry’s brief second-quarter flurry, the Rockets kept the pressure on throughout, using transition offense to punish Golden State.
“Once we do that and take care of everything, we get out and run with some pace and turn defense to offense,” Udoka said.
Houston shot 55.1% from the field and connected on 13 of 30 three-point attempts, while holding the Warriors to just 41.7% shooting overall.
Dillon Brooks added 24 points and played a central role in defending Golden State’s wings, while VanVleet added five assists and guarded Draymond Green for stretches.
Udoka also praised VanVleet’s overall impact, calling him “a winning guy” who facilitates, defends, and scores when necessary.
The Rockets led by as many as 34 points before the Warriors cut it to 17 early in the fourth, forcing Udoka to bring his starters back in.
“That was due to a lack of scoring and rebounding,” he explained, noting Golden State’s second-chance points and turnovers during the run.
A late-game scuffle — which included an ejection for Pat Spencer — halted Golden State’s momentum, and the Rockets closed the game with a 7-2 run.
Asked about Dillon Brooks allegedly swiping at Curry’s thumb, Udoka declined to comment.
Instead, his focus remained on preparation for Game 6, reiterating that Houston must “win the possession, the quarter, the half” to force a decisive Game 7.
With the win, Houston cut the series deficit to 3-2 and now heads to San Francisco with the goal of becoming just the 14th team in NBA history to overcome a 3-1 playoff series hole.
Game 6 is set for Friday night at Chase Center.
