Draymond Green didn’t need to overcomplicate things when describing how the Golden State Warriors secured a 95-85 victory over the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series Sunday night.
“We played our style. Defended, moved the ball, let Steph be Steph,” Green said simply.
Stephen Curry led the way with 31 points, putting on another vintage postseason performance, hitting 12 of his 19 shots—including 5-of-9 from 3-point range. He delivered a couple of jaw-dropping circus shots that left the Warriors’ bench in hysterics and silenced a sold-out Houston crowd.
In his first playoff game with Golden State, Jimmy Butler looked right at home, contributing 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and five steals. Acquired from Miami in February, Butler added toughness and composure as the Warriors weathered Houston’s second-half surge.
The seventh-seeded Warriors built a commanding 23-point lead in the third quarter before the second-seeded Rockets roared back. Houston trimmed the deficit to single digits by the end of the third and pulled within four points twice in the final six minutes.
Amen Thompson made it 79-75 with 5:30 left, but Curry immediately answered with his fifth 3-pointer of the night. Later, after Fred VanVleet’s triple brought Houston back within four with 2:30 left, Moses Moody drilled a clutch corner three to ignite a 7-0 Warriors run that put the game out of reach at 91-80.
Golden State’s victory spoiled the Rockets’ first playoff appearance since 2020. Alperen Sengun shined with 26 points in his postseason debut, but it was a rough night for Houston’s backcourt. VanVleet and Jalen Green combined to shoot just 7-of-34 from the field. VanVleet especially struggled from deep, going 2-of-13 as Houston finished just 6-of-29 from long range.
Despite a lopsided 22-6 disadvantage on offensive boards, the Warriors’ defense and timely shot-making proved decisive.
The win also marked a milestone for Warriors head coach Steve Kerr, earning his 100th career playoff victory, tying him with Larry Brown for sixth all-time.
Golden State is no stranger to knocking out Houston in the postseason, having eliminated them four times between 2015 and 2019. But as Curry pointed out, “This team is totally different. New faces, new energy. But the goal stays the same.”
The Warriors punched their playoff ticket with a gritty win over Memphis in the Play-In Tournament earlier in the week and now carry momentum into Game 2, which is set for Wednesday night in Houston.
With Curry in rhythm, Butler fitting seamlessly, and the Warriors’ playoff pedigree shining through, Golden State has thrown the first punch in what promises to be a competitive series.
