In what was expected to be a confident follow-up to their Game 1 triumph, the Golden State Warriors instead found themselves on the back foot, dropping Game 2 to the Houston Rockets, 109-94. This Western Conference first-round playoff clash saw momentum shift dramatically as Houston rebounded with energy and execution, while Golden State suffered a major setback early with the loss of Jimmy Butler III.
From the tip, the Rockets looked intent on rewriting the script. Their energy on both ends of the floor disrupted Golden State's offensive rhythm, and their shooting accuracy was far superior to Game 1. The biggest story of the night came within the first quarter: Jimmy Butler, one of Golden State's top scoring threats and defensive anchors, collided with Rockets’ guard Amen Thompson while contesting a drive. Butler left the game just eight minutes in with a pelvic contusion and did not return. The Warriors were clearly rattled without their emotional leader, and it showed in their ball movement and physicality.
Jalen Green, meanwhile, looked like a man on a mission. After a quiet Game 1, Green torched the Warriors' perimeter defense with 38 points, including an impressive 8-of-13 shooting from three-point range. His confidence surged as the game progressed, culminating in a 15-point third quarter that buried any hopes the Warriors had of clawing back. He danced around screens, attacked closeouts, and drilled pull-up threes that sucked the air out of Golden State’s defensive efforts.
Supporting Green was the ever-versatile Alperen Şengün, who put on a clinic in frontcourt finesse. Şengün dominated the paint, finishing with 17 points, 16 rebounds, and 7 assists. His ability to facilitate from the high post kept the Warriors guessing, especially with their defensive rotations thrown off by Butler's absence. Cam Whitmore and Jabari Smith Jr. each added 13 points, providing timely baskets to keep the Warriors at bay when they briefly threatened a comeback in the second quarter.
On the Golden State side, Stephen Curry led the charge with 20 points, but it was an inefficient night by his standards. Forced into tough shots by Houston's aggressive switching defense, Curry never quite found his rhythm. He was often hounded by Dillon Brooks, whose physical defense — while drawing the occasional whistle — succeeded in frustrating the Warriors' flow.
Moses Moody and Quinten Post tried to pick up the slack, each contributing 12 points. However, the bench lacked the spark needed to match Houston’s energy. The absence of Butler created a void that Golden State’s rotation players couldn’t fill, both offensively and in terms of leadership. Jonathan Kuminga and Trayce Jackson-Davis added hustle plays but struggled to convert around the rim, further compounding the Warriors’ woes.
Free-throw shooting proved to be another Achilles’ heel for Golden State. They hit just 11 of their 18 attempts from the line, compared to Houston’s 18-for-22. Rebounding was another key battleground lost — the Rockets pulled down 47 boards to the Warriors’ 33, controlling the tempo and limiting second-chance opportunities.
After the game, Steve Kerr remained measured but concerned. He praised Houston’s execution and Green’s breakout performance while acknowledging the disruption caused by Butler’s injury. He noted the team’s need to “adjust quickly, with or without Jimmy” and emphasized the importance of protecting home court in the upcoming two games in San Francisco.
As the series heads into Game 3, the pressure is squarely on Golden State. The health of Jimmy Butler hangs over the team like a cloud, and Houston has seized the psychological edge. If the Warriors are to advance, they’ll need more than just a vintage Curry performance — they’ll need resilience, depth, and answers for a Rockets team that just proved they’re not going quietly.
