Warriors vs Rockets face off in a thrilling matchup as the Houston Rockets beat the Golden State Warriors 115-108 on Wednesday night. The game had a bit of everything: a fast start, an injury scare, a flagrant foul, and one of the best all-round performances of the season. If you missed it, here’s the full post-game analysis in plain, simple language, with the key plays and player stats you actually need to know.
Final Score: Rockets 115, Warriors 108
Houston took an early lead and never looked back. The Rockets started off strong, getting out to a 35-20 lead entering the second quarter. Despite multiple comebacks from Golden State, Houston held onto the lead. The loss snapped Golden State’s eight-game winning streak. The Warriors’ longest win streak since their 2022 championship season.
| Quarter | Warriors | Rockets |
| 1st | 20 | 35 |
| 2nd | 31 | 21 |
| 3rd | 28 | 29 |
| 4th | 29 | 30 |
| Final | 108 | 115 |
Key Plays That Changed the Game
1. Houston’s fast start. The Rockets opened the game on a 17-7 run and built an 18-point lead. That early gap put pressure on the Warriors for the rest of the night.
2. Stephen Curry’s early exit. Curry, who ranked second in the league in scoring coming into the game, played just six minutes before right abdominal soreness forced him to the bench. He finished with only 3 points and did not return. Losing your best scorer that early changes everything about how a team can fight back.
3. The Marcus Smart incident. Things got heated in the third quarter when Rockets guard Marcus Smart threw a punch at Warriors centre Charles Bassey. Smart was ejected from the game, which added some extra edge to an already physical matchup.
4. Houston’s fourth-quarter run. Golden State clawed back to within eight points early in the fourth quarter. Houston answered right away with a 15-2 run that put the game out of reach for good.
Player Stats to Watch: Houston Rockets
Alperen Sengun — 19 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists. Sengun came close to a triple-double and controlled the game from the middle. He shot 8-of-14 from the field and was the toughest matchup on the floor all night.
Kevin Durant — 20 points, 5 assists. Durant led all scorers for Houston in his matchup against his former team, and he did it efficiently, shooting 8-of-17 from the field.
Amen Thompson — 19 points, 7 rebounds. Thompson was nearly perfect inside, shooting 8-of-11 from the field and adding 9 fast-break points.
Fred VanVleet — 18 points, 6 assists. VanVleet shot 6-of-9 from the field, including 4-of-7 from three-point range, and gave Houston steady guard play all night.
Player Stats to Watch: Golden State Warriors
Yaxel Lendeborg — 25 points, 10 rebounds. Lendeborg was the real bright spot for Golden State, leading all scorers in the game and picking up his third career double-double off the bench.
Brandin Podziemski — 22 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists. Podziemski knocked down four three-pointers and kept Golden State in the game during Curry’s absence.
Stephen Curry — 3 points, 6 minutes. A rough, short night for Curry, who left early with an injury and didn’t get the chance to find his rhythm.
Warriors bench — 49 points. Golden State’s reserves outscored Houston’s bench by 24 points (49-25), which says a lot about how deep this Warriors roster is even on an off night for the starters.
Quick Stats Comparison
| Stat | Warriors | Rockets |
| Field Goal % | 41% | 51% |
| Three-Point % | 33% (17-51) | 36% (13-36) |
| Free Throw % | 73% | 74% |
| Rebounds | 59 | 51 |
| Turnovers | 13 | 12 |
| Bench Points | 49 | 25 |
| Fast-Break Points | 7 | 19 |
The numbers tell their own story. Golden State actually won the rebounding battle and got more from the bench, but Houston shot a much higher percentage and dominated in fast-break points, which made the difference.
What This Loss Means for the Warriors
It’s a tough feat to do, but once you’ve got an eight-game winning streak it can be easily lost. The Warriors struggled from beyond the arc, only making 17 of their 51 three-point attempts. This isn’t normally something that this team struggles with. The main concern looking ahead is how Curry will be feeling with his abdominal injury. If he is sidelined for any period of time then Podziemski and Lendeborg will have to continue producing at this level.
This victory moves Houston to 9-3 in the season, showing they have a lot of depth with Durant, Sengun, Thompson and VanVleet all in double digits.
Quick Answers
Q: Who won the Warriors vs Rockets game? A: The Houston Rockets won 115-108.
Q: Why did Stephen Curry leave the game? A: Curry left in the first quarter with right abdominal soreness and did not return.
Q: Who had the best stats in the game? A: Alperen Sengun of Houston nearly recorded a triple-double with 19 points, 13 rebounds, and 9 assists. Yaxel Lendeborg led all scorers with 25 points for Golden State.
Q: What happened with Marcus Smart? A: Smart was ejected in the third quarter after throwing a punch at Warriors centre Charles Bassey.
Q: Did this end a winning streak? A: Yes. The loss snapped Golden State’s eight-game winning streak, their longest since the 2022 championship season.
