Game 3: Warriors grab series lead as Steph Curry torches Rockets in the playoffs, again
Even with co-star Jimmy Butler (left pelvic contusion) sidelined by injury, Warriors legend Steph Curry still proved too much for the Houston Rockets to handle in Golden State's 104-93 playoff victory (box score) on Saturday night.
By winning Game 3 at home, the Warriors now lead the best-of-seven, first-round series by a 2-1 margin. Game 4 is Monday, also at San Francisco's Chase Center. Since Golden State already won once in Houston, the Rockets will need to win at least one road game to ultimately win the series — and despite leading by 13 points in the first half and facing an opponent without one of its two stars, the Rockets still couldn't get it done in Game 3.
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After Jalen Green led the Rockets with 38 points in a Game 2 victory, the Warriors were much more aggressive in sending traps and help defenders his way, and the Rockets couldn't make them pay. Green finished with 9 points, the fewest of any Houston starter.
"We expected that coming in," Rockets head coach Ime Udoka said postgame. "When (Green) does his job, and he has two on the ball and gets it to guys, they have to make them pay behind it. ... Teams have done it all year. Their gamble paid off. We didn't make them pay with that, especially with the paint shots."
Houston made just 34-of-86 shots (39.5%) as a team — and excluding Dillon Brooks and reserves Steven Adams and Jabari Smith Jr. (all at 50% or better), the other five rotation players connected on just 24-of-68 shots (35.3%). The Rockets also made just 14-of-24 free throws (58.3%), which was much closer to their 55% clip in a Game 1 loss than their 80% during a Game 2 victory.
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Curry was brilliant for the Warriors with 36 points, (52.2%), 9 assists, and 7 rebounds, while sparingly used reserves Gary Payton II and Buddy Hield combined for 33 points on 13-of-22 shooting (59.1%) and 7-of-14 from 3-point range (50.0%).
Butler's status for Monday's Game 4 is not yet clear, though he has not been ruled out. Read on for highlights, interviews, and associated postgame tidbits and reaction.
Game 3 Highlights
Postgame Interviews
Amen Thompson Struggles
Rockets-Warriors Series Schedule, Results
Game 1 : Warriors 95, Rockets 85 (Golden State leads, 1-0)
Game 2 : Rockets 109, Warriors 94 (Series tied, 1-1)
Game 3 : Warriors 104, Rockets 93 (Golden State leads, 2-1)
Game 4 : at Golden State (Monday, April 28, 9:00 p.m. Central tipoff on TNT)
Game 5 : at Houston (Wednesday, April 30, 6:30 on TNT)
Game 6 , if necessary: at Golden State (Friday, May 2, TBD)
Game 7, if necessary: at Houston (Sunday, May 4, TBD)
All games not televised on ABC will also be televised via a regional Space City Home Network broadcast featuring Houston's own broadcast team.
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More: 'This ain't that team': 2025 Rockets unfazed by playoff history versus Warriors
This article originally appeared on Rockets Wire: Game 3: Warriors grab series lead as Steph Curry burns Rockets, again
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