The games follow and look alike for Stephen Curry and the Rockets. If the Warriors have this time mastered their subject, the Rockets again put up a good resistance before seeing their hopes still go up in smoke at the end of the match, because of the leader of Golden State.
Like the last game between the two teams, Christian Wood took advantage of two quick fouls from Kevon Looney to score 14 of his team’s 25 points in the first quarter as the Warriors struggled to get going (25-23 ). Their defense and their energy then rise in tone and Golden State takes control of operations behind an Andrew Wiggins still on cloud nine and a defense that limits Houston to 37% success (61-52).
As Kevin Porter Jr. keeps the Rockets in ambush, both teams multiply the loose balls. KPJ then decides to provoke Stephen Curry with “trash talking”. The double MVP does not fit into his opponent’s game but responds by scoring seven points which launch a 17-2 Warriors (85-67). The Rockets do not abdicate however. They come back several times below the five-point mark but Stephen Curry takes matters into his own hands. He scored 19 of Golden State’s first 21 points in the final quarter to repel the Texan onslaught and give his team a sixth straight victory.
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Andrew Wiggins, again and again. The Warriors winger continues to deliver remarkable performances since his tenure in the All-Star Game. While he had scored 17 of his 24 points in the first half against Brooklyn, he did it again in Houston, scoring 17 of his 23 points before the break at more than 60% success while participating in his team’s defensive awakening . He also knows how to step back when one of his teammates catches fire. It was already the case against the Nets, and it was repeated tonight when Stephen Curry became incandescent.
– The determination of the Rockets. Houston could have given up many times, whether at the end of the first half, in the third quarter when the Warriors had taken off, or in the last minutes when Stephen Curry was not missing anything. And yet, led by Christian Wood and Kevin Porter Jr, with support from Garrison Mathews, Kenyan Martin Jr. and Josh Christopher off the bench, the Rockets never lost their intensity and drive. An attitude that portends better days for the worst team in the West.
– Stephen Curry becomes Stephen Curry again. Always looking for his shot for several weeks now, the Rockets are not lucky to be spared by the double MVP. His buzzer shot gave the Warriors the win ten days ago when the Rockets dominated the proceedings, and that night Stephen Curry was fondly remembered by Toyota Center and Rockets fans. Like Game 6 of the 2019 conference semi-finals, he took out the flamethrower after halftime, to score 30 of his 40 points at 6 of 11 from 3-pointers, including six insolent minutes to kill the game. Stephen Curry, who claims to have found the reasons for his slack, therefore strikes a blow, is this the start of a great series?
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Stephen Curry. 40 points, 7 of 14 3-pointers, 9 assists, 5 rebounds. The double MVP can breathe, the Warriors too, the return to normal seems to be confirmed.
✅ Andrew Wiggins. The Warriors winger continues to be solid and valuable in the absence of Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala and Otto Porter Jr. He is the most consistent Warrior this season. Steve Kerr says so.
✅ Christian Wood. Unleashed at 3-pointers, the pivot started strong before dropping his feet in the second half. However, he finished as the team’s leading scorer and rebounder with 24 points and 13 rebounds.
✅ Kevin Porter Jr. The Rockets point guard finished in a double double (17 points, 11 assists) but he did something irreparable by provoking Stephen Curry…
⛔ Clay Thompson.The “Splash Brother” never set the target this night, finishing 6 out of 15 on shots, including 1 out of 8 from afar.
⛔ Eric Gordon. While his name circulates in transfer rumours, the rear lacked address (2/10 from 3-pointers) and never managed to find his rhythm or cause fouls.
THE FOLLOWING
Golden State (38-13): the Warriors go back-to-back in San Antonio.
Houston (14-36): the Rockets will try to bounce back against the Cavaliers on Wednesday.
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