The Houston Rockets picked up a famous 106-96 win over the Golden State Warriors last night. Not only did it take them a step closer to securing the No. 2 seed in the West, but it also stopped the Warriors’ charge up the standings, not allowing them to jump to the No. 4 seed.
The game was defined by the absolutely incredible defense we saw played on Stephen Curry by the Rockets. By using Amen Thompson as the primary POA defenders but ensuring every other player was also engaged in stopping Curry, the Rockets completely neutralized the Warriors’ guard.
Videos of the game show how aggressive the Rockets were being, pressuring Curry on every possession and making him have as uncomfortable a night as possible.
Bruh the Rockets had Steph Curry IN HELL
No wonder he only had 3 points ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ pic.twitter.com/CyBIXKwBWA
— Hater Report (@HaterReport_) April 7, 2025
Curry shot 1-10 from the field and had more turnovers than points. The entire Rockets roster defended Curry really well when called upon, but the architect of this defensive showing was sophomore wing Amen Thompson, whose defensive performance was arguably one of the best of the season.
Amen Thompson tonight:
14 points
5 rebounds
6 assists
3 steals
2 blocks
Curry worst game of the season: 1-10 from the field. Beast pic.twitter.com/oKcfePp7mk
— Julie Gilchrist (@JulieanneGilch1) April 7, 2025
Curry looked like a fish out of water all game, with the Rockets not letting him get settled into the game. That was a great idea. A comfortable Curry was averaging 41.7 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.3 assists over the last three games as the Warriors are trying to surge up the West standings. This loss sets them back, but they’re still well-placed to hold onto a spot in the top six.
This still wasn’t Curry’s worst performance of the season, having a two-point night with 0 three-pointers made in a 51-point loss to the Memphis Grizzlies in December. Safe to say that Curry got his revenge by dropping 52 points on them last week.
The Rockets have given everyone in the NBA a blueprint on how to guard Curry. Unfortunately, it likely won’t work for anyone else, given they don’t have the incredible defensive pieces that the Rockets have. We’ve already complimented Amen, but even guys like Dillon Brooks stepped up to ensure Curry wasn’t impactful.
It was the kind of performance that sends a message to other contenders in the West. The Rockets aren’t a flash-in-the-pan; they’re legitimate contenders and will be a nightmare to beat in a seven-game series.
Jimmy Butler Didn’t Like How The Rockets Guarded Stephen Curry
The fact that Curry had just three points in the game was a major talking point. Naturally, Curry’s teammate Jimmy Butler was asked about this performance, leading to a pretty angry reaction about the general treatment Steph gets from referees.
“They did a good job. Whatever you wanna call it. *shrugs*”
“I don’t even know. I’ve seen an individual get fouled more than he gets fouled. To me, I think it’s astounding. It’s crazy to say, but he’s used to it. He’s been having this issue his whole career, but he’s found a way through it, around it, under it. It’s tough.”
“Yeah, I’ve seen it since I’ve been here. I don’t know how many years he’s got, what he got, 16? I’m pretty sure this has been happening for 16 straight years. It really angers me that he’s on my team and he gets treated that way.”
The Rockets are known to play aggressive defense, and clearly, there were no calls in Steph’s favor as he shot 0 free throws. His whistle might improve, but it’s hard to see the guard doing anything more than shoot the 4.3 attempts per game he already receives.
