Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr reflected on Thursday’s 115‑113 overtime victory at Houston, highlighting his team’s depth and defensive adjustments. “We play well like we did tonight, we got a shot against anybody. The mentality is right and we just got to keep plugging away,” Kerr said.
Kerr emphasized the defensive contributions of Al Horford and Draymond Green. “To be able to match size with Al and put Draymond on the other team’s best player, whether it’s Kawhi or Kevin, I loved that combination,” he said. “Draymond really relishes the opportunity because he’s still an all-world defender.”
The coach praised Brandin Podziemski’s performance. “Just the right mix of on and off-ball attacks. You saw him get that flare and dive layup to start overtime that gave us the lead,” Kerr said. Podziemski finished with 26 points, four three-pointers, nine rebounds, and limited turnovers while contributing defensively.
De’Anthony Melton also earned Kerr’s praise for his late-game impact. “Down the stretch, when we were up one, he got to the rim and eventually scored on the putback. His ability to get past people is really a big deal for us,” Kerr said. Melton added 23 points, including critical baskets in the overtime period.
The coach noted the energy from his younger players. “These young guys, Nate Williams, Malevy, LJ Cryer, all committed to each other and the mission. LJ hit four threes and made big plays for us,” Kerr said.
Kerr also discussed the team’s rotation strategy. “We try to script our rotation each night based on who’s available. We had to get minutes without Draymond, without Al, and we utilized the whole bench. These guys are all good players, learning and growing,” he said.
Regarding the atmosphere and team history, Kerr reflected, “This is a good building for us. Winning here, even in a regular-season game, feels like a playoff win. Seeing young guys compete and come out with a win—it’s really fun as a coach.”
Stephen Curry missed his 12th consecutive game with a knee injury, but Golden State displayed resilience. Al Horford contributed 17 points, helping control the paint in Kevin Durant’s absence, while Podziemski and Melton carried the offense during the critical moments.
Golden State improves to 32‑30, maintaining their playoff positioning in the Western Conference. The Warriors travel to face Oklahoma City on Saturday, while Houston drops to 38‑23 and hosts Portland on Friday.
