Warriors’ playoffs confidence builds after beating Rockets

Houston Rockets’ Alperen Sengun (28) defends against Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

2025.02.13 – Warriors guard Stephen Curry scored 27 points and the Golden State withstood a late surge by the Houston Rockets for a 105-98 victory Thursday night.

Warriors capped a six-game, nine-day trip that included a pair of back-to-backs, wielding their way to a win over their onetime Western Conference rivals. That despite shooting 39.3% overall and 26.8% from 3-point range for their first victory since 2015 when shooting beneath 40% and 30%, respectively, in those categories.

The Warriors can now rest their heavy legs at home for the All-Star break, which is coming to the Bay Area for the first time since 2000.

Curry hit two colossal fourth-quarter triples that halted Houston’s comeback from a 24-point deficit. Warriors wing Jimmy Butler added 19 points, eight rebounds, four assists and steely know-how down the stretch despite 1-for-6 fourth-quarter shooting, grabbing three offensive rebounds and sinking four fourth-quarter free throws.

Brandin Podziemski added (18 points, five rebounds, four assists and four steals) while supplanting Buddy Hield in the starting backcourt beside Curry, Butler, Draymond Green and Moses Moody (10 points, six rebounds, two steals and two blocks) in Golden State’s 33rd unique starting lineup this season.

“We needed to go into the break feeling good,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “Winning three out of four on the road since Jimmy’s arrival — I think that’s a great sign. So, I just feel like everybody is in desperate need of a break. Myself included. And I think these next five or six days will be fantastic for everybody just to fill up the cup, re-energize and come back for the stretch run.”

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2025.02.13 – Warriors vs. Rockets (NBA Video highlights)

Houston Rockets defends against Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (#30) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

2025.02.13 – Warriors vs. Rockets (NBA Video highlights)

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2025.02.13 – Warriors vs. Rockets (NBA Video highlights)

The Warriors, knowing Houston is a weak outside shooting team, stifled the Rockets with zone defense and took an early 38-22 lead.

For all their misgivings so far this season, the fourth-quarter follies and offensive inefficiency, the Warriors (28-27) are armed with a winning record and 10th-place positioning in the Western Conference. Their stated goal of the No. 6 seed — identified postgame Saturday by Kerr — is only 3½ games away.

Since Butler debuted, the Warriors are fourth league-wide defensively (106.7 points per 100 possessions) and sixth in net rating (plus-9.7 points). The sample size — or lack thereof — notwithstanding reflects improvement since he arrived.

Butler hit his first 3-pointer as a Warrior and Curry matched him to give the Warriors their biggest advantage of the night, 74-53.

With that 21-point lead, Moody appeared to injure his shoulder on a drive, but still dove on the floor to pick up a loose ball. It was the type of energy required to overcome the adverse circumstances.

Butler said before leaving the locker room: “When you put a bunch of good basketball players on the floor, they always figure out a way to win. We should be 4-0” in reference to Golden State’s four-point loss Wednesday to the Dallas Mavericks.

“I was sick to my stomach” since arriving in Houston, he continued. “We’re going to figure it out and move on. We’re going to go streaking and win a couple more.”

With sunglasses and a smile on his face, Green said the Warriors would have lost to the Rockets had they not had Butler on their side, “but having a guy like that changes everything for us, so after four games the assessment (of Butler) is great.”

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2025.02.13 – Warriors vs. Rockets (NBC Sports Post Game)

Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (9) defends Golden State Warriors forward Jimmy Butler (10) in the first quarter of game action at the Toyota Center on Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025 in Houston.Elizabeth Conley/Staff Photographer

2025.02.13 – Warriors vs. Rockets (NBC Sports Post Game)

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2025.02.13 – Warriors vs. Rockets (NBC Sports Post Game)

Golden State built its lead by forcing 13 first-half turnovers, utilizing zone defensive tactics to spare its legs amid a wearing trip that began a week ago Wednesday against the Utah Jazz. A 62-48 halftime lead mushroomed to 81-57 midway through the third quarter. Houston responded with its fourth-rated defense (109.3) and league-best rebounding rate (52.8%).

Aaron Holiday led Houston with 27 points.

By stringing together stops as the Warriors withered, the Rockets (34-21) pulled within two with 6:03 to play.

“We have to learn how to close games,” Kerr said, because in 34 clutch games — defined by the NBA as games played within a five-point margin — they’re 17-17. “That was an important game for us. We think Jimmy, Jimmy’s presence and skill, is going to allow us to finish games much better than we have so far this year.”

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2025.02.13 – Warriors vs. Rockets (Locked On Post Game)

Houston Rockets’ Jalen Green, center, drives between Golden State Warriors’ Moses Moody, right, and Jimmy Butler during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

2025.02.13 – Warriors vs. Rockets (Locked On Post Game)

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2025.02.13 – Warriors vs. Rockets (Locked On Post Game)

Curry drilled a 3-pointer to stem a Houston surge with six minutes left and Podziemski euro-stepped his way into the lane for a tough bucket. The Warriors couldn’t rebound out of their zone defense, but clung to a lead nevertheless.

Curry set a back-screen for Butler, freeing the new Warrior for a wide open bucket by leveraging his gravity to put Golden State back up nine. Podziemski snatched a steal and Green, sensing the moment, nailed a 3 from above the break.

The young guys’ fresh legs built the lead, and the veterans brought it home.

“The chemistry is definitely getting there,” Green affirmed. “It’ll take some more time and we’ll continue to figure it out. But like I said before (Butler) started playing — we’re all winners. And we’re all smart basketball players. So we can figure it out.”

First things first: rest, the All-Star Weekend in the Bay Area, recovery and then, next Friday, it’s on to Sacramento and 26 more critical games.

INJURIES

Warriors: F Jonathan Kuminga will be re-evaluated again in week as he begins some individual work while recovering from a sprained right ankle that has kept him out the last 15 games.