Warriors 95 vs 85 Rockets Game 1 summary, stats, score and highlights | NBA Playoffs
Jimmy Butler closed out the game with this jam in transition to finish his night with 25, and the Warriors took Game 1 in one of the most anticipated series of the first round. Draymond Green said during the All-Star Weekend, with Butler in Golden State this team is going to win the title. They went into the house of the two seed and took down the Rockets. It's just one win, but it's a big one. They will try to double their advantage on Wednesday from the Toyota Center.
The Rockets were able to cut the lead from 23 all the way down to 3 points in the 4th quarter, but Chef Curry had something special cooking. This came at a huge moment. There was an out of bounds call that was given to the Warriors, despite it going off Draymond Green's hand. The Rockets didn't have a challenge, and a second later, Steph does this from the logo.
We watch in awe on live TV and highlights, but Jimmy Butler is still getting used watching the Steph show up close and personal. The Warriors hit 12/32 threes, five of those were Curry's as he went on to score 31 points and hit the biggest shots in the biggest moments of the night.
After going down 23, the Rockets rallied and closed the gap heading into the fourth quarter. Jabari Smith came to life in the second half, scoring most of his 11 points after halftime.
We should be used to this by now, but each and every time we see it our jaws drop. No space, not even looking at the basket, with a defender in his face and he somehow someway drills it while falling out of bounds. Curry had another 30 point game, his third straight.
Jimmy was feeling it on his playoff debut as a Warrior. This is his time of year after all, and he showed up in Game 1. He put Golden State by 20 in the 3rd quarter with this three ball and had a message for TNT's Reggie Miller who was courtside calling the game.
The Warriors went on a 10-0 run to end the first half and took a 13 point lead into the second half. The Rockets looked a little lost scoring just 13 points in the 2nd quarter, but they would recover after the halftime break.
Baketball is a game of runs and never was that more evident than in the game from Houston. The Warriors took a big lead in the 2nd quarter thanks to a 24-7 run as Steph Curry started to warm up against Houston's overly aggressive defense.
We all saw Jimmy Butler kick into another gear at the end of the season and in the Play In, and he brought it in his playoff debut as a Warrior. The Warriors defense was the story in the second quarter and they turned the double digit first half turnovers from Houston into points on the other end.
The Rockets had a plan coming into the game, and that was to beat up the Warriors. They were physical, they were pesky and they pushed Steph Curry and the Dubs around for the first few minutes. That would last a little while but the Warriors would adjust and take control of the game.
The Golden State Warriors went into Houston and came out with a Game 1 win in what was a tight, physical battle from the Toyota Center. Steph Curry led the Warriors with a 31 point night in the Warriors 95-85 win.
It was the Rockets and Alperin Sengun who got off to a quick start to Game 1, but it was the Rockets big man doing most of the heavy lifting as the rest of Rockets took a little while to get into a groove.
IT'S ALL OVER!!!
The Golden State Warriors go into Houston and take down the 2 seed Houston Rockets on the road.
Brooks hits a three ball but that's going to be the last bucket of the game.
Butler picks off Sengun and he takes it for the slam to put the cherry on top of this Game 1 win!
Podziemski drives to the cup and lays it up and over Brooks.
Green wiggles to the bucket and he lays it up and in.
Butler on the step back from the elbow and he drills it over Sengun!
Butler fighting for the offensive rebound and put back to extend the lead to 9 with 1:30 to go.
Podziemski to the corner for Moody for three and he strokes the biggest shot of the night!
VanVleet drills a three ball from the wing and we have a four point game with 2:30 to go!!
The Warriors didn't challange, Kerr wanted to get his guys a rest and Sengun gets the line and hits both FTs.
Sengun to the line after the foul on Green but the Warriors are going to challenge the call with 3:23 to go.
Green follows up the miss from Podziemski and tips it in and the Warriors are back in control of this game with under 4:00 to go.
The Warriors got a break getting an out of bounds call that went off Green last, and Curry hit a deep three ball from the logo to deflated this Toyota Center with under 5:00 to go.
Thompson with a tough fader from inside the FT line and that goes.
Green picks off the pass from Adams and Moody gets the mid range jumper from the wing.
The call stands and Podziemski goes to the line where he hits one of two FTs.
Podziemski was fouled by Thompson on the blocking call, but the Rockets are going to challenge that call with 6:33 to go.
Thompson backing down Curry and he gets the floater to fall.
Kick out from Thompson to Smith in the corner and he drills the three ball out of the timeout!!
Curry with the rebound and he looks up court for Payton for the wide open transition slam!
Timeout Houston with 7:48 to go in the 4th quarter.
Podziemski drives and slides it to Payton who lays it up and in to break up the run.
Thompson missed the lay up, but Adams was there with the tip in.
Green sends Smith to the line where he hits both FTs. 9:10 to go in the 4th quarter.
Curry lost it on the way up and Thompson runs the break before feeding Adams for the slam!
Adams to the line after the foul on Post but he misses both FTs.
Curry with the quick trigger as the shot clock runs out and drills the three ball!
Sengun with the lay up down the lane and the run is up to 19-3 for HOU.
WE ARE HEADING TO THE FOURTH QUARTER WITH THE WIND IN THE SAILS OF THE HOUSTON ROCKETS!!!
Smith drives baseline and finger rolls it home to extend this to a 17-3 run.
Smith to the line after the foul on Looney and he hits both FTs.
Post sends Sengun to the line and he hits one of two FTs.
Butler to the line after the foul on Smith, and he hits one of two FTs.
Brooks to the line after the foul on Curry and he hits one of two FTs.
VanVleet with the drive to the cut after the offensive board from Adams. It's an 11-2 run by Houston.
Adams with the drive and reverse on the baseline.
Curry hits the fade away from the elbow out of the timeout.
Timeout Warriors with 4:24 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Sengun on the step back three ball from the corner and he is keeping this Rockets team in this game all on his own.
Brooks to the line after the foul on Green and he hits both FTs.
Sengun with the steal and he finds Eason in transition for the lay up on the break.
Curry to the line after the foul on VanVleet and he hits both FTs.
Eason to the rack and he gets the lay up to fall.
Curry fading out of bounds and he drills the three ball in the corner!!!
Butler pulls the trigger from the wing and nails the three ball!
Timeout Rockets with 7:30 to go in the 3rd quarter.
Podziemski to the cut off the feed from Butler and he lays it up and in.
Sengun goes into the gut of Green and gets the hook shot to fall.
Butler on the turn around fader from the elbow.
Green with the offensive board and he finds Thompson down low for the lay up.
Podziemski jacks a three ball and hits it from the wing! He's got 3 threes on the night.
Curry back on the board with a lay up off the back cut and Butler found him.
Green to the line after the foul on Moody and he hits one of two FTs ,but Brooks gets the board and finds Green for the lay up.
Moody to the line after the foul on Thompson and he hits both FTs.
WE ARE BACK IN HOUSTON FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!!
The Warriors ended the half on a 10-0 run and lead by 13. Whatever they were doing in the 2nd quarter, keep doing it. For the Rockets, who only scored 13 points in the 2nd quarter, they need to get some offense from anyone not named Sengun.
He makes it look easy despite all eyes on the floor being locked on him. He's got 16 points to lead the Warriors and it looks like he's just getting warmed up.
Once Curry got going, everyone started to get open looks including Gui Santos. They Warriors started the second quarter on an 18-5 run to stretch out the lead before the halftime break.
Houston is so concerned with the three point shot of Steph, but Curry knows that and that's why he would bait them out on the perimeter and take it to the cup.
No team is better at moving the ball and getting open shots than the Warriors. That's what they had to do to counter act the physical defense that Houston came out with.
The Warriors were a little sloppy to start the game, but as the game went on the Warriors were the team forcing more turnovers and turning those into points on the other end.
Houston came out and tried to push the Warriors around to start the game, and they did a good job frustrating them for a while. Eventually the Warriors were able to straighten out the ship and start hitting shots.
It's been over a half decade since Houston hosted a playoff game and the energy was electric to start Game 1. Alperen Sengun got things going for the Rockets with some early bucket, and this monster slam down the lane. He was the best Rockets player in the first half with 16. No one else has more than 5 points.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST HALF AND THE WARRIORS LEAD BY 13 AFTER A 10-0 RUN TO END THE HALF.
Butler to the line after the foul on Smith and he hits one of two FTs. 10-0 run from GS in the last couple of minutes.
Curry drops a three ball from the Toyota Center logo and the Warriors have their biggest lead of the night.
Butler in the corner and he hits the deep two with the shot clock winding down.
Curry downs a triple try from the top of the key and he's starting to warm up.
Sengun down low again, and he's got 16 already!
Curry with the leaner from the elbow out of the timeout to break up the run.
Brooks with the offensive board and bank shot from outside the lane.
Timeout Warriors after a 6-0 run from HOU with under 4:00 to go in the first half.
Sengun off the curl and he hits the mid range shot off another assist from VanVleet.
Sengun gets the feed from VanVleet and puts it up quickly from down low to beat the shot clock buzzer.
Green finds Curry cutting down the lane and he lays it up and in and the Warriors are on an 18-5 run to start the second quarter.
Timeout HOU with 6:08 to go in the half.
Santos to the line after the foul on Smith and he hits both FTs.
Thompson to the line after the foul on Podziemski but he misses both FTs for the second time tonight.
Butler into the paint and he hits the floater in heavy traffic.
Hield off the dribble and he nails the deep two ball in the corner!
Gui Santos answers back with a triple in the corner off the find from Butler.
Brooks was open off the kick out from VanVleet and he strings the three from the wing!
Butler to the line after the foul on Thompson and he hits both FTs.
Podziemski strings the three ball and ties the game up from the corner!
The call is overturned after review so the Dubs take over down three.
Out of bounds for Houston on their attacking end, but the Warriors are going to challenge the call with 10:23 to go in the 2nd quarter.
Green off the dribble and he floats it up and in for his first points of the night.
Sengun starts the second quarter with a turn around hook shot and he's in double digits.
WE ARE AT THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER!!!!
It's been physical, it's been loaded with defense and it's been tight so far.
Sengun leads all scorers with 8, Butler and Curry both have 6 to lead the Warriors.
Curry back to the iron and he double clutches and finishes off the glass. He's having to work for everything, but he's starting to warm up and the Rockets need a timeout with 1:05 to go in the 1st quarter.
Smith banging down low and he sees the short shot fall.
Curr with the finger rolls from right outside the lane and he gets the short lay up to go.
Butler comes out of the timeout and he gets the floater to fall.
Eason picks off the pass from Moody and he takes it for the two handed slam!!!
Timeout Warriors with 3:20 to go in the 1st quarter.
Green slashing down the paint and he hits the Warriors with a reverse lay up with his back to the bucket.
Curry off the curl and he goes to the bucket and hangs it up high off the glass.
VanVleet gets the FT line jumper to go after the long offensive rebound.
Payton was left open for three and he strokes it off the pass from Curry.
Butler with the lay up on the baseline off the feed from Payton in the lane.
Sengun isn't playing any games in is playoff debut. He's got 8 points already including this posterizing jam down the lane.
Timeout from Houston with 6:30 to go in the 1st quarter.
Thompson into the lane and he lays it off for Sengun who hits the short jumper from outside the lane.
Sengun from the FT line and he hits the jumper. He's got 6 already.
Sengun on the offensive board and put back off the miss from Green.
Butler on the break and he goes right to the rack for the lay up on the left side.
Podziemski with the three ball from the top of the key for the fist bucket of the night for GS.
VanVleet jacks the three from the wing and Houston lead by a touchdown!
Sengun streaking down the lane off the feed from Green and he dunked it over Green!!!
Thompson pulls up from the elbow and hits it over Butler.
WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM HOUSTON!!!
Warriors starting five
The Warriors head into Houston looking to steal the first one of the series. It's Steph, Podziemski, Moody, Butler and Green to start for Golden State.
Rockets first five
The Rockets are young, but they are going to try and use that to their advantage. It's Van Vleet, Thompson, Green, Brooks and Sengun to get started from Houston in Game 1.
Season series: HOU vs. GS
These two teams have played five times this season. The Warriors have the 3-2 edge coming into the playoffs. Obviously a lot has happened since the first match up between these two teams in the beginning of November. GS won that game in OT from Houston and then beat the Rockets in GS to put an end to a five game losing streak. The Warriors would go on to win two of the final three matches, but none of the games were determined by more than 10 points. A lot of people like the playoff experience of the Warriors over the youthful explosiveness of the Rockets. It history has shown us anything, we should buckle up for what promises to be a fantastic series.
Game 1 results
The first day of the postseason got started off with a bang. Indy beat the Bucks up in the first game on Saturday, and then the Clippers took the Nuggets to OT before Denver won in OT. The Knicks had a big late run to top the Pistons, and the T’Wolves stunned the Lakers in LA to close out the night. Today the Thunder started their title chase with a 51 point spanking of the Grizzlies, the Celtics took care of the Magic, and the Cavs are currently up on the Heat to in Game 1 from Cleveland.
Warriors injury report
Steve Kerr has a full deck heading into the first round series against Houston. They had to play one extra game, and they ended the season in playoff mode already, but they were able to survived the final stretch and stay healthy for Game 1 against the Rockets. They are going to need to dip into their bench just to keep up against the young and explosive Rockets team that will be looking to draw first blood from the Rocket City.
Houston injury report
The Houston Rockets had the luxury of sitting some of their stars at the end of the season, but they are all back. Alperen Sengun, Jalen Green, Jabari Smith Jr. and Amen Thompson are all back for this opening round matchup up. The only players that are out of Game 1 are Jae’Sean Tate and big man Jock Landale, but Ime Udoka has most of his top weapons ready for battle tonight.
Since the Jimmy trade
Jimmy Butler left a toxic situation in Miami and came to a tumultuous situation in San Fran. The Warriors were 25-26 when he made his debut in Golden State. They went 16-3 once Jimmy Butler made his debut and rocketed up the standings. Despite being one of the hottest teams in the league since mid February, their slow start to the season left them in the Play In spot in 7th place in the West after a 23-8 stretch since Jimmy’s debut. He went off against the Clippers in the season finale, but they fell short in that game and GS had to play the Grizzlies in the Play In. Jimmy led the way in each of those games, with a Warriors high 30 points in the season finale, and then.
Star watch: Rockets
If you haven’t seen much of the Rockets this season, there are a few things you should know. First of all, I haven’t seen a whole lot of them either, but they are a complete team that depend on a handful of scorers to contribute to their success while playing staunch defense on the other side of the floor. They have seven players that average double digits, and their leading scorer, Jalen Green scores just 21 points a game. He is the star, but there are plenty of players who don’t just play a supporting role. Guys like Alperen Sengun, Fred VanVleet and Amen Thompson have all rose to the occasion and have found their sweet spot with their role on the team.
Star watch: Warriors
Talk all you want about Jimmy Butler, but this is still Steph Curry’s team and he is still one of the best players in the league. It’s true he needed a second scoring option like Jimmy to open up is options on the offensive side, but he has shown that he is still just as clutch as ever. In the biggest games of the season (the last two) he had 36 points and 37 points. In five of his last 8 games he has scored 30 or more, and one of those was a 52 point game at the beginning of the month. If the Warriors are going to make a run, they know Curry has to cook for the next few weeks. Let’s see what the chef is whipping up in the kitchen heading into the playoff opener.
How they got here: Rockets
The Rockets have been quietly, patiently building a winning team down in Houston for the last few years. After years of seasons finishing at the bottom of the Western Conference those high draft picks blossomed and they came together this season put together one of the best seasons that Rockets fans have seen in years. By Christmas they were 10 games above .500 but they went through a rough patch here or there like all young teams. By the end of the season they were clear of the rest of the pack for the second seed and had the luxury of resting some of their stars before a playoff run.
How they got here: Warriors
It looked like the beginning of the end of an era to start the season in San Francisco. The Warriors, who let Klay Thompson leave this offseason, had a terrible start to the season. Steph Curry looked a shade of himself and Golden State were a middle of the pack team through the first few months of the season. Their saving grace came in the trade deadline when they traded for Jimmy Butler back in February. He brought new life to the team and eased the burden on Steph Curry. As a result the Warriors rocketed up the standings and were in contention for a top four spot heading into the playoffs, but faltered at the end of the season and had to get through the first Play In Game against the Memphis Grizzlies.
We are live from Houston
Hello everyone and welcome to Houston for the final Game 1 of the opening round of the playoffs.The Golden State Warriors were one of the best teams coming out of the All-Star break after a massive mid season trade, but that didn’t prevent them from having to get through the Play In Tournament just to qualify for the playoffs. The Houston Rockets have been one of the stories of the season. They have gone though a revival this year and enter the playoffs as one of the top seeds, but now it’s time to put up or shut up. Their first order of business… the Golden State Warriors and Steph Curry.
Warriors vs. Rockets
Game 1 of one of the match ups of the first round tips off tonight from Houston. It’s a young, inexperienced team that has soared to the top of the Western Conference taking on a four time champion that has been revived with a mid season trade. The two seed Houston Rockets host the seven seed Golden State Warriors from the Toyota Center and AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats highlights and analysis from the Rocket City.