Jalen Green erupted for 38 points on eight 3-pointers, powering the Houston Rockets to a 109-94 victory over the short-handed Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night and leveling their first-round series at one game apiece.
Coming off a rough playoff debut in Game 1, where he shot just 3-of-15 for seven points, Green flipped the script with a scorching shooting display, igniting the Rockets early and never letting up. His long-range barrage matched the Warriors’ energy and then some, giving Houston a much-needed offensive lift after their cold shooting doomed them in the opener.
The game took a sharp turn late in the first quarter when Golden State’s Jimmy Butler took a hard fall on a foul and exited with a pelvic contusion. The veteran forward, who had 25 points in Game 1, did not return, leaving a gaping hole in the Warriors’ lineup. To make matters worse, Brandin Podziemski was clearly not himself, battling a stomach ailment that limited him to 14 ineffective minutes after scoring 14 points in the opener.
Stephen Curry led Golden State with 20 points and nine assists and quietly passed the 4,000-point mark for his playoff career, becoming just the 11th player in NBA history to do so. But the Warriors never led in Game 2 and spent most of the night chasing Houston’s pace and energy.
Golden State closed the gap to 11 early in the fourth behind back-to-back threes from Quinten Post, but Houston responded with an 8-0 burst to slam the door shut — capped by a signature Green step-back triple that sent the home crowd into a frenzy.
Game 3 heads to San Francisco on Saturday night with both teams looking to swing momentum in what’s shaping up to be a fiery and unpredictable series. Let’s provide a rating for every Warriors player after Wednesday night.
Stephen Curry: B
Stats: 20 PTS, 5 REB (0 OREB, 5 DREB), 9 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 6 TO, 0 PF, 6-15 FG, 4-9 3PT, 4-4 FT, -3, 37 MIN
Curry reached a playoff milestone by surpassing 4,000 career postseason points, but his impact was muted in Game 2. While he posted a solid stat line with 20 points and nine assists, the six turnovers were costly, and he struggled to generate consistent rhythm under Houston’s aggressive perimeter defense. Without Butler to draw attention, Curry was forced to shoulder more creation than usual, and while efficient from the line and from deep, he couldn’t swing the momentum back in Golden State’s favor.
Quinten Post: B
Stats: 12 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 1 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 4-9 FG, 4-8 3PT, 0-0 FT, -4, 25 MIN
Post gave the Warriors a spark off the bench, knocking down four three-pointers and briefly igniting a run in the fourth quarter. His shooting helped space the floor when the offense grew stagnant, and he was one of the few Warriors who matched Houston’s energy from the perimeter. Although his rebounding and defensive presence were limited, his shot-making kept the Warriors within striking distance late.
Pat Spencer: B
Stats: 11 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 5-7 FG, 1-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, -2, 12 MIN
Spencer made the most of his 12 minutes, offering an efficient scoring burst on 5-of-7 shooting. His fearless drives and confident pull-up gave the Warriors a lift when they needed a secondary scorer. While his defensive impact was negligible and he picked up two fouls quickly, his offensive output was a bright spot in an otherwise disjointed night for Golden State’s second unit.
Moses Moody: C+
Stats: 12 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 1 AST, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 4-7 FG, 3-6 3PT, 1-2 FT, -13, 24 MIN
Moody’s shooting stroke showed up again, as he hit three of his six attempts from beyond the arc and contributed 12 points overall. However, his defensive effort wavered, and he was often a step late rotating against Houston’s drive-and-kick attack. Moody’s offensive contributions were valuable, but his -13 plus-minus reflected the team’s struggles while he was on the court.
Jonathan Kuminga: C
Stats: 11 PTS, 3 REB (1 OREB, 2 DREB), 2 AST, 0 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 4-12 FG, 2-5 3PT, 1-2 FT, -3, 26 MIN
Kuminga looked out of rhythm from the opening tip. Despite finishing with 11 points, his 4-of-12 shooting hurt Golden State’s offensive flow. He showed flashes of his athleticism, but his decision-making was inconsistent, and he failed to capitalize on a few easy looks near the rim. Defensively, he struggled to stay in front of Green and didn’t provide the energy or spark the team desperately needed with Butler out.
Draymond Green: C
Stats: 8 PTS, 5 REB (1 OREB, 4 DREB), 1 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK, 5 TO, 3 PF, 2-6 FG, 2-6 3PT, 2-4 FT, -13, 31 MIN
Draymond’s defense was active — with three steals and a block — but the five turnovers were tough to overlook. His offensive limitations showed once again, especially as Houston sagged off him on the perimeter. Though he hit two threes, they didn’t shift momentum, and he couldn’t effectively orchestrate the offense as he normally does. It was a gritty, but inefficient outing that highlighted his declining offensive reliability.
Kevon Looney: C
Stats: 5 PTS, 4 REB (2 OREB, 2 DREB), 3 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 2-3 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-2 FT, -6, 13 MIN
Looney had a quietly decent game in limited minutes, showing his usual composure and making the most of his few touches. He contributed with some interior passing and was effective on the offensive glass, but the Warriors were clearly searching for more speed and versatility, which limited his playing time. He didn’t hurt the team, but he didn’t have the opportunity to change the game either.
Buddy Hield: C
Stats: 5 PTS, 4 REB (1 OREB, 3 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 2-4 FG, 1-3 3PT, 0-0 FT, -7, 16 MIN
Hield played with a bit more control than in Game 1 but still couldn’t provide the spacing and firepower Golden State hoped for when acquiring him. He hit one three and grabbed four boards, but his inability to generate shots off the dribble made him a non-factor once Houston adjusted. His quiet night exemplified the Warriors’ lack of perimeter punch beyond Curry and Post.
Gui Santos: C-
Stats: 3 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 2 TO, 4 PF, 1-3 FG, 0-1 3PT, 1-2 FT, -8, 11 MIN
Santos played with energy but struggled to find a rhythm in limited action. He committed four fouls in just 11 minutes and had a couple of costly turnovers that halted Warriors possessions. Though he converted a free throw and made one bucket, his defensive lapses and sloppy play made it tough for Steve Kerr to trust him with extended minutes.
Brandin Podziemski: D
Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB (0 OREB, 0 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-5 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, -11, 14 MIN
Clearly impacted by illness, Podziemski was a shell of his Game 1 self. He missed all five of his shots and was a defensive liability throughout his 14 minutes. Lacking his usual energy and timing, he offered virtually nothing on either end of the floor, and his -11 plus-minus was reflective of how flat the Warriors looked when he was on the court.
Gary Payton II: D
Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB (1 OREB, 0 DREB), 1 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 0-3 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, -4, 12 MIN
Payton’s calling card is defense and hustle, but in this game, he looked a step slow and had no offensive impact. He missed all three of his shot attempts and finished with just one rebound and one assist in 12 minutes. While he did record a steal, his usual disruptive presence was absent, and his two fouls added to the team’s defensive woes.
Jimmy Butler III: N/A
Stats: 3 PTS, 2 REB (0 OREB, 2 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 1-2 FG, 0-0 3PT, 1-2 FT, -7, 8 MIN
Butler’s early exit was a game-changer. After scoring three points in eight minutes, he suffered a pelvic contusion that knocked him out for the remainder of the game. His absence left a major void in both leadership and scoring, which the Warriors never recovered from.
Braxton Key: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 0 REB (0 OREB, 0 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 2 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 0-0 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +2, 4 MIN
Key got in during garbage time and managed to tally two blocks in just four minutes, showing a glimpse of his defensive instincts. However, with the game already out of hand, his contributions didn’t affect the outcome.
Kevin Knox II: N/A
Stats: 2 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 0 PF, 1-3 FG, 0-1 3PT, 0-0 FT, +2, 4 MIN
Knox knocked down one shot and recorded a rebound and assist during his brief four-minute stint. He showed good energy in a limited role but didn’t play long enough to warrant a meaningful grade.
Trayce Jackson-Davis: N/A
Stats: 2 PTS, 2 REB (1 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 1-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +2, 4 MIN
Jackson-Davis was efficient in mop-up duty, converting his lone field goal and pulling down two rebounds. His activity was noticeable, but like the rest of the bench unit, his minutes came too late to influence the game.
