Stephen Curry scored 31 points in vintage fashion and the Golden State Warriors opened their first-round series with a gritty 95-85 win over the Houston Rockets on Sunday night. Back in playoff mode after emerging from the Play-In, the seventh-seeded Warriors stormed to a 23-point third-quarter lead, only to watch the second-seeded Rockets claw their way back into contention behind Alperen Sengun’s 26-point postseason debut.
Houston cut the deficit to just four on two separate occasions in the final six minutes, but Golden State had the answer each time. First, Curry silenced the rally with his fifth triple of the night. Then, with the Rockets threatening again, Moses Moody knocked down a dagger 3-pointer that jump-started a 7-0 run and effectively sealed the win.
Jimmy Butler, playing in his first playoff game with Golden State after a midseason trade from Miami, added 25 points, seven boards, six assists, and five steals, giving the Warriors the two-way presence they’ve lacked since their championship runs. Curry was lights-out, hitting 12 of 19 shots and 5 of 9 from deep, while Steve Kerr earned his 100th career playoff victory, tying Larry Brown for sixth all-time.
Back in the postseason for the first time since 2020, Houston struggled mightily from the perimeter. Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green combined to shoot just 7-for-34, with VanVleet going 2-for-13 from beyond the arc. As a team, the Rockets shot just 6-of-29 from three and left nine points at the free-throw line, finishing 11-of-20.
Despite the loss, the Rockets showed late-game fight, but the Warriors’ playoff pedigree held firm. Game 2 is set for Wednesday night in Houston, so let’s provide a rating for every Warrior for his performance on Sunday night.
Stephen Curry: A
Stats: 31 PTS, 6 REB (0 OREB, 6 DREB), 3 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 4 TO, 2 PF, 12-19 FG, 5-9 3PT, 2-2 FT, +3, 40 MIN
Curry was in vintage form, guiding the Warriors to a gritty Game 1 win with 31 points on 12-of-19 shooting, including five triples. He dictated the pace, delivered timely daggers, and hit tough shots when the Rockets rallied late. Though he only had three assists and committed four turnovers, his scoring was essential, especially in a game where Golden State struggled to generate consistent offense. With the game tightening in the fourth, Curry’s shot-making reminded everyone why he’s one of the most dangerous postseason players in the league.
Jimmy Butler III: A
Stats: 25 PTS, 7 REB (3 OREB, 4 DREB), 6 AST, 5 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 10-19 FG, 1-2 3PT, 4-6 FT, +14, 42 MIN
In his first playoff game as a Warrior, Butler looked every bit the seasoned postseason warrior (no pun intended) Golden State hoped for when they traded for him. He stuffed the stat sheet with 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and five steals, and his all-around two-way dominance helped set the tone early. Butler’s physicality and leadership stabilized the Warriors when the Rockets surged, and his +14 plus/minus underscored just how impactful he was. It was a perfect debut for a player made for this time of year.
Brandin Podziemski: B
Stats: 14 PTS, 8 REB (1 OREB, 7 DREB), 5 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 2 PF, 5-13 FG, 3-8 3PT, 1-2 FT, +17, 35 MIN
Podziemski was rock-solid in his playoff start, scoring 14 points with eight rebounds and five assists. While he shot just 5-of-13 from the field, he competed hard on both ends and made up for inefficiency with hustle and ball movement. His +17 led the team, and he looked comfortable in big moments. The youngster didn’t shy away from pressure, which is a huge positive as the series unfolds.
Moses Moody: C+
Stats: 7 PTS, 2 REB (1 OREB, 1 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 3 PF, 2-5 FG, 1-4 3PT, 2-2 FT, +6, 28 MIN
Moody’s seven points won’t jump off the page, but his timing was impeccable. His clutch three-pointer with just over two minutes left gave the Warriors breathing room and helped seal the game. Outside of that shot, Moody was quiet, contributing two rebounds and a single assist in 28 minutes while shooting just 2-of-5. He’ll need to be more assertive moving forward, but his confidence in crunch time was a welcome sign.
Draymond Green: C+
Stats: 4 PTS, 6 REB (1 OREB, 5 DREB), 3 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 4 PF, 2-5 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, +4, 37 MIN
Draymond Green didn’t fill the scoring column, but he contributed in his usual Swiss Army knife fashion with six boards, three assists, three steals, and a block. However, he struggled with foul trouble and couldn’t provide the typical defensive glue throughout the game. He shot 2-of-5 and missed both three-point attempts, but his presence was felt on defense in key moments. Golden State will count on him to clean up the defensive rotations in Game 2.
Gary Payton II: C+
Stats: 7 PTS, 3 REB (0 OREB, 3 DREB), 1 AST, 2 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 3-6 FG, 1-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, -10, 16 MIN
Payton II provided his typical defensive energy in limited minutes, tallying seven points, three rebounds, and two steals. He also hit a three and ran the floor well, though his -10 plus/minus shows he was part of the group that allowed Houston back in the game. Still, his disruptive defense and ability to spark transition opportunities remain valuable tools for the Warriors’ second unit.
Buddy Hield: D
Stats: 2 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 1 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 1-4 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, +7, 15 MIN
Hield’s playoff debut with the Warriors was underwhelming. He hit just one shot in 15 minutes and missed both of his three-point attempts. Known for his shooting, Hield’s inability to get going from deep was a setback for Golden State’s spacing. While he wasn’t a liability, he needed to find his rhythm quickly to play a meaningful role in this series.
Quinten Post: D
Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 1 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 2 PF, 0-3 FG, 0-2 3PT, 0-0 FT, +4, 12 MIN
Post played 12 minutes but struggled to make an impact, going scoreless on three shots and grabbing just one rebound. He looked a step slow at times and failed to provide much rim protection or spacing. He was part of the bench unit that couldn’t maintain the Warriors’ third-quarter cushion, and his role could shrink as the series progresses unless he brings more activity.
Gui Santos: N/A
Stats: 5 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 1 TO, 1 PF, 1-1 FG, 1-1 3PT, 2-2 FT, +1, 7 MIN
Santos came in for a quick stint and made the most of it, scoring five points in just seven minutes on perfect shooting. He hit a three and added two free throws, showing some spark in garbage time. Though his minutes were limited, he flashed potential as an energy guy who could maybe swing a shift if called upon in a pinch.
Kevon Looney: N/A
Stats: 0 PTS, 1 REB (0 OREB, 1 DREB), 0 AST, 0 STL, 0 BLK, 0 TO, 1 PF, 0-1 FG, 0-0 3PT, 0-0 FT, +4, 9 MIN
Looney played just nine minutes and didn’t score, but grabbed a rebound and was a +4 during his short time on the floor. He wasn’t needed much with Golden State running smaller lineups and focusing on spacing, but his experience and rebounding could come into play as the series grows more physical.
