Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle
Carlos Avila Gonzalez/S.F. Chronicle
The Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets didn’t need the playoffs to renew their rivalry.
Five regular-season matchups renewed it for them.
To start the final week of the 2024-25 season, the Warriors played the Rockets again – falling 106-96 in a physical matchup between the NBA’s seventh-rated (Golden State) and fourth-rated (Houston) defenses. Golden State’s five-game win streak ends with four games remaining.
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Hounded on and off the ball by one of the league’s biggest and most athletic teams – that’s deep with defenders at the point of attack – Stephen Curry shot 1 of 10, finishing with three points and eight assists. The Rockets won rebounding (48-46) and points in the paint (56-40) while forcing 20 turnovers.
Buddy Hield scored 20 for the Warriors, who got 19 points, six rebounds and four assists from Brandin Podziemski. Golden State shot 41.6%.
Alperen Sengun had 19 points and 14 rebounds for Houston. Dillon Brooks added 24 points.
Golden State (46-32) dropped into the sixth spot in the Western Conference, but it sports the same record as the Minnesota Timberwolves, Memphis Grizzlies and Los Angeles Clippers
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The Warriors trailed 51-50 at halftime after two, spirited physical quarters that charged another sellout Chase Center crowd into chants that disparaged the referees. Green was issued a technical foul as he battled on the block with Sengun, extending his elbow.
Curry and Rockets head coach Ime Udoka had an exchange as the court cleared for halftime.
The Warriors led 24-20 after the first quarter behind six three 3-pointers: two each from Podziemski and Hield. They lost the second quarter 33-26 behind a 16-8 rebounding disadvantage that helped the Rockets to eight first-half second chance points.
Gary Payton II scored 11 first-half points. Curry scored his only points on a 37-footer before the first half expired.
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Houston opened the second half with a 9-3 run, featuring Sengun through the middle of Golden State’s defense. Green was issued his fifth foul at the 9:57 mark after driving down the baseline and bowling through Sengun.
The foul was upgraded to a flagrant upon a review, drawing additional backlash from the crowd.
Golden State’s deficit swelled to 10 before Hield made his third 3-pointer and Jonathan Kuminga followed what would have been his fourth with a putback after the ball rimmed out.
The Warriors trailed 83-76 after three quarters and pulled within two to start the fourth, but the Rockets responded with eight straight points around two Warriors misses and an errant pass. Golden State missed 12 of its first 16 fourth-quarter field-goal attempts as Houston embarked on a 23-9 run.
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The Phoenix Suns await the Warriors on Tuesday in the regular-season’s penultimate road game.
Reach Sam Gordon: [email protected]
