HOUSTON may have surpassed Golden State in three-pointers made in a record-setting season. But the Warriors showed the Rockets first-hand that they’re more than just a three-point shooting team
The Warriors turned to defense to overcome a hot Rockets start and nabbed their 10th straight win after holding Houston to less than 100 points for the first time in 62 games, 107-98, on Friday (Saturday, Manila time) at the Oracle Arena.
Steph Curry came alive in the third with 14 points in the quarter to help the Warriors come back from a 13-point deficit and enter the fourth trailing only by two. And with the reigning back-to-back MVP on the bench, Golden State’s gritty group of veteran reserves unleashed a 9-0 run to take its first lead since the opening quarter, 97-92, with 4:18 remaining.
The Warriors defense also locked down on the Rockets gunners, holding Houston scoreless since the 9:40 mark until James Harden hit a three with 2:42 to play to get within five, 100-95. Curry, though, countered with a triple of his own to bring the lead back up to eight.
Harden got the Rockets within seven with 38.4 ticks remaining but the Warriors held on and dealt Houston its first three-game losing streak of the season.
Curry led all scorers with 24 points, 19 in the second half, while Klay Thompson added 20 as the Warriors (62-14) extended their lead over the San Antonio Spurs (58-17) for the league’s best record.
Andre Iguodala continued his recent stellar play with 14 points, five rebounds, five assists, three blocks and two steals off the bench.
Harden had 17 points on a miserable 4-of-18 shooting while Eric Gordon and Trevor Ariza each fired 15 for the Rockets (51-25).
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