Curry Drops 31 as Warriors Steal Home-Court Advantage – The Golden State Warriors sent a clear message to the NBA: Never count out the champs.
In a gritty, defense-heavy Game 1, Stephen Curry (31 points, 6 threes) and Jimmy Butler (25 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists) led a relentless Warriors squad to a 95-85 road win over the Houston Rockets, snatching home-court advantage right out of the gate.
For a team that barely clawed into the playoffs as the 7-seed, the Warriors looked anything but underdogs. Instead, they played like a squad that’s been here before—because they have.
Game Breakdown: Warriors’ Experience Trumps Rockets’ Playoff Jitters
Curry’s Playoff Mode Activated
From the opening tip, Curry was in full assassin mode, draining deep threes, slicing through Houston’s defense, and delivering his signature fourth-quarter daggers. His step-back three over Amen Thompson with 3:12 left in the game effectively sealed it, sending the Toyota Center crowd into stunned silence.
“Steph was Steph,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “When he’s hitting shots like that, there’s just no answer.”
️ Warriors’ Defense Clamps Down
While Curry’s offense dazzled, Golden State’s defense won this game. They held Houston to just 85 points, forced 15 turnovers, and completely disrupted the Rockets’ rhythm.
- Draymond Green was a menace, locking down the paint and frustrating Houston’s young stars.
- Andrew Wiggins shadowed Jalen Green all night, holding him to 14 points on 5-of-18 shooting.
- The Rockets shot just 39% from the field and 28% from three—a nightmare for a team that relies on explosive offense.
Rockets Looked Like Playoff Newbies
Houston, making their first postseason appearance since 2020, played tight. Amen Thompson (12 points, 5 turnovers) struggled against the Warriors’ physicality, while Alperen Şengün (8 points, 6 rebounds) was a non-factor.
“We got outplayed in every facet,” admitted Rockets coach Ime Udoka. “This is playoff basketball. We have to adjust fast.”
Key Takeaways
✅ Warriors’ Championship DNA Shows
- Curry & Butler delivered like veterans.
- Defense travels—Golden State made Houston work for every bucket.
- Road win = Huge advantage in a series where home court was supposed to favor Houston.
❌ Rockets’ Concerns
- Offense looked stagnant—too much iso, not enough ball movement.
- Young core struggled under playoff pressure.
- Can Şengün be a factor? He was outplayed by Kevon Looney all night.
Around the Playoffs: Cavs Dominate, Celtics Up Next
Cavaliers 121, Heat 100 – Mitchell Drops 30 in Blowout
- Donovan Mitchell (30 pts) and Darius Garland (27 pts) shredded Miami’s defense.
- Ty Jerome (28 pts, playoff debut) erupted in the 4th quarter.
- Heat looked sluggish—will they bounce back in Game 2?
☘️ Celtics vs. Magic (Sunday Night)
- Jaylen Brown (knee) questionable—will Boston’s offense suffer?
- Orlando’s young core (Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner) gets first playoff test.
- Can the Magic pull off an upset? They went 2-2 vs. Boston in regular season.
What’s Next?
- Game 2 (Houston): Thursday, 9 PM ET – Can the Rockets respond?
- Warriors’ goal: Steal both road games and take full control.
- Rockets’ adjustment? More ball movement, less hero ball.
Final Thought
If Game 1 proved anything, it’s this: Never underestimate the Warriors in the playoffs. Curry is still the most dangerous shooter alive, and if Houston doesn’t adjust fast, this series could be over sooner than expected.
