The Golden State Warriors and Houston Rockets treated fans to an instant classic at the Toyota Center on Wednesday night, with the Warriors emerging victorious in overtime, 135-132. The thrilling contest saw multiple lead changes, clutch plays, and a performance for the ages from Stephen Curry.
The Rockets, led by Christian Wood’s 28 points and 13 rebounds, came out strong in the first quarter, building a 10-point lead. However, the Warriors, fueled by Curry’s 13 points in the quarter, stormed back to take a 33-32 lead after one. The seesaw battle continued throughout the first half, with the Rockets taking a 65-64 advantage into the break.
In the third quarter, the Warriors’ bench, led by Juan Toscano-Anderson’s 10 points, provided a spark, helping Golden State take a 97-93 lead into the fourth. The Rockets refused to back down, with Wood and Kevin Porter Jr. combining for 17 points in the quarter to force overtime.
In the extra period, the Warriors’ experience and poise paid off. Curry, who finished with 44 points, 7 rebounds, and 5 assists, took over, scoring 8 points in OT, including the game-winning three-pointer with 2.1 seconds remaining. The shot capped an incredible night for Curry, who made 11 three-pointers, one shy of his career high.
“I just tried to stay aggressive and take what the defense gave me,” Curry said in the post-game press conference. “It was a crazy game, but we found a way to win.”
The Warriors’ win was their fifth straight, improving their record to 25-14. The Rockets, meanwhile, fell to 17-22, snapping a three-game winning streak.
