Golden State Warriors center Al Horford praised his team’s focus after Thursday’s 115‑113 overtime victory at Houston. “Feels really good. Last game we came out with good energy and just couldn’t sustain it. Draymond hit it on the nail with us tonight. We have to make sure that we keep that intensity in the second half,” Horford said.
Horford emphasized the defensive effort that fueled the win. “The defensive effort was there. Last game we got discouraged when we missed some shots, and tonight we just stayed with it,” he added. His 17 points helped the Warriors control the paint while Kevin Durant was limited.
The veteran noted the impact of Golden State’s younger players. “It’s special because we’ve been hurting, missing so many guys. For those G League guys to step in—LJ, I knew what he can bring shooting the three, playing off the dribble. It was nice to see him have that type of impact,” Horford said. LJ Cryer contributed four three-pointers and key minutes in overtime.
Horford also reflected on his role alongside Draymond Green. “What’s special is Draymond’s ability to take on Kawhi against the Clippers, take on KD, and do such a great job. For me, it’s being able to impact in any way I can. We showed we can play together and be efficient down the stretch,” he said.
The Warriors trailed late in regulation before Horford’s three-pointer gave them a 101‑99 lead, sending the game to overtime after a Houston turnover. Golden State built a three-point cushion in the final 30 seconds, with De’Anthony Melton tipping in a layup with 5.3 seconds remaining to secure the win. Melton finished with 23 points.
Horford praised the team’s resilience despite Stephen Curry missing his 12th consecutive game with a knee injury. “Just to be able to get this win, especially with three two-way guys and being underdogs coming in, it’s special. It feels invigorating,” he said.
Golden State shot 48% from the field and 37% from three-point range, forcing 19 assists and limiting turnovers to 10. Brandin Podziemski scored 26 points, including critical shots in overtime, and Al Horford’s presence in the frontcourt alongside Draymond helped the team manage Houston’s late-game surge.
The victory improves Golden State to 32‑30, keeping them in playoff contention in the Western Conference. The Warriors travel to face Oklahoma City on Saturday, while Houston drops to 38‑23 and hosts Portland on Friday.
