Scott Strazzante/S.F. Chronicle
Scott Strazzante/S.F. Chronicle
Scott Strazzante/S.F. Chronicle
Scott Strazzante/S.F. Chronicle
Scott Strazzante/S.F. Chronicle
Scott Strazzante/S.F. Chronicle
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle
Scott Strazzante/S.F. Chronicle
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle
Scott Strazzante/S.F. Chronicle
Scott Strazzante/S.F. Chronicle
The Golden State Warriors got Jimmy Butler back for their playoff matchup with the Houston Rockets.
As a result, they’re one win away from the Western Conference semifinals.
With Butler back in their starting lineup, playing through a pelvic and deep glute contusion, the Warriors fought for a 109-106 victory Monday at Chase Center to take a 3-1 series lead. Butler provided 23 of his 27 points in the second half, adding the tiebreaking free throws, game-sealing rebound and game-sealing free throws in the final seconds.
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Brandin Podziemski had 26 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Warriors, who got 17 points from Stephen Curry and 15 from Buddy Hield.
Standout big man Alperen Sengun scored a game-high 31 for Houston, including 22 in the second half as Draymond Green battled foul trouble. Sengun attacked Green for the go-ahead layup in the closing seconds, but Green stonewalled his drive and contested his hook shot that Butler rebounded.
Houston shot 19 of 31 at the free-throw line.
Game 5 is Wednesday at Toyota Center.
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The Warriors opened a 13-2 lead by forcing four turnovers atop the first quarter. Hield twice stripped Houston’s Green for a layup and two free throws from Podziemski, who’d previously buried a corner triple.
Golden State’s Green made two 3-pointers and chants of “Warriors” rocked the arena, but Houston would settle its halfcourt defense – pressuring ballhandlers and packing the paint.
The Rockets closed the first quarter with a 24-12 burst for a 28-26 deficit, patiently passing and cutting on offense to open triples and shots in the paint.
That pattern persisted the rest of the half.
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A zone defense – featuring Sengun and fellow big man Steven Adams – further muddied Golden State’s driving lanes and helped the Rockets to a 34-31 lead early in the second quarter.
A scuffle ensued a few minutes later when Dillon Brooks fouled Curry driving, triggering a successful challenge from Kerr and an exchange at halfcourt during a stoppage in play. Another foul from Brooks on Curry – who flashed two fingers for two fouls for Brooks – resulted in pushed and shoves near halfcourt as Golden State’s Green intervened when Brooks attempted to take the ball.
Curry, Brooks and Green were assessed technical fouls after a lengthy stoppage. Another one followed a few minutes later when Green and Tari Eason were tangled after Eason drew a loose-ball foul and Green rolled his leg into Eason’s head.
Green received a flagrant foul and Eason was assessed a technical foul.
The Warriors committed turnovers on five of their last six first-half possessions en route to a 57-50 halftime deficit.
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An 18-1 run to start the third quarter helped Golden State regain control. A zone defense brought Houston’s offense to halt as Butler, Hield, Curry and Podziemski passed, cut and converted for the Warriors.
Houston countered with a 16-6 burst as Golden State’s Green garnered his fifth foul, featuring Sengun (11 third-quarter points) offensively as Fred VanVleet (25 points) made his fifth and sixth triples.
The Warriors led 82-80 after three quarters, preceding a back-and-forth fourth.
Without Green to anchor its defense, Sengun continued to attack the basket – prompting his return with 7:51 amid a 92-90 deficit. VanVleet’s seventh triple with 4:20 to play positioned the Warriors with a four-point disadvantage that Butler and Hield overcame with a cutting layup and triple, respectively.
Butler followed with a driving layup with 2:12 to play.
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After VanVleet’s eighth 3-pointer tied the game at 104, Butler was fouled shooting a corner triple by Brooks and made the free throws for a 3-point lead. Sengun answered with another driving deuce that Golden State couldn’t answer with a basket.
Houston called timeout with 13.1 seconds, setting up Sengun’s unsuccessful attack of Green. Chants of “Jimmy” reverberated as Butler closed the win at the free-throw line.
