After a resounding victory on the road in Game 1, the Golden State Warriors were eager to compete for a chance at a 2-0 series lead in tonight’s showdown against the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center. Securing the win in Game 2 would have put the Dubs up 2-0 going back to San Francisco, but the Rockets had other plans after swinging the momentum back in their favor.
This game was pretty much set from the start, with Houston taking a 10-point lead after the first quarter. From there, the Rockets increased the difference until their lead became nearly insurmountable with minutes to go in the fourth quarter. By the end of this contest, both teams were completely worn out, but it was the Rockets who came out on top with a 15-point win (109-94).
Stephen Curry was the star of the show for his team with 20 points, five rebounds, and nine assists on 44% shooting from three. Draymond Green finished with eight points, five rebounds, and one assist while Moses Moody dropped 12 points and two rebounds on 57.1% shooting.
Meanwhile, Jalen Green was the leading scorer for the Rockets with 38 points, four rebounds, and seven assists on 40% shooting. Alperen Sengun totaled 17 points, 16 rebounds, and seven assists while Tari Eason contributed 14 points, six rebounds, and one assist off the bench.
Teams who take a 2-0 lead almost always go on to win the series, and so, this was a must-win game for the Rockets. With great execution on both sides of the ball, you have to give them credit for how they played tonight, but the Warriors also struggled in some key areas that show just how flawed they still are.
Early Exit For Jimmy Butler
Acquiring Jimmy Butler in February practically changed the Warriors’ season overnight. They went from NBA bottom feeders to one of the biggest playoff threats in the West thanks to his defense on the wing and ability to create his own shot off the dribble.
After going 23-7 in the regular season, the Warriors looked poised to make a major playoff run in the West, but they are facing steep competition, and Jimmy Butler’s availability is compromised. He scored just three points in eight minutes tonight before leaving the game early with a pelvis contusion.
Without Butler’s influence, the Warriors struggled to find a spark, and it wasn’t long before the game stretched beyond their reach. The good news is that Butler should be back in action later in the series, but it could be a few games before he’s fully cleared to return.
Dominated On The Boards
Without a proper starting center, the Warriors have tasked Draymond Green with commanding the frontcourt, and he’s making an impact in more ways than one. Sadly for Draymond, he couldn’t help his team where they needed it the most: on the glass, where Houston totaled 47 rebounds vs. the Warriors’ 33.
Rockets big man Alperen Sengun finished with a whopping 16 rebounds by himself tonight, including six offensive boards. Once Butler went down, the Warriors had no depth in the frontcourt, and they had nobody to challenge Sengun on the interior.
Using size and strength is the best way to beat the Warriors, and it’s why we can expect the Rockets to ramp up their intensity and physicality for the rest of the series. If there’s one area of weakness for Golden State, it’s at the center position, which means they are especially vulnerable around the rim.
Failure From The Warriors’ Role-Players
With a chance to take a commanding 2-0 lead tonight, Warriors fans were hoping that the team would lock in and secure another victory on the road. Jimmy Butler and Stephen Curry have played their roles to perfection so far, but everyone else has been inconsistent at best.
Tonight, the Warriors shot just 41.2% from the field and 39.5% from three. Curry was the only one on his team to hit the 20-point mark and the only starter to score 13 or more. Compared to the other top six teams in the West, the Warriors lack depth, and it could be what holds them back from a championship run this year.
In Game 2 against the Rockets, key role players like Buddy Hield and Jonathan Kuminga struggled to stay on the court in their limited minutes, and it could spell disaster if they don’t find an offensive rhythm at home in Game 4 and 5. As good as Steph and Draymond are together, they cannot carry the Lakers to victory on their own, not without enough help from the supporting cast.
With the series tied at 1-1, the Warriors ultimately set out to do what they came for: steal a win on the road and nullify Houston’s home-court advantage. But if there’s one thing we learned in the first two games, it’s that this will be a long series that could alter the trajectory of both teams for the next few years to come.
