What we learned as Steph, Warriors stave off Rockets comeback in win

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What we learned as Steph, Warriors stave off Rockets comeback in win originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

BOX SCORE

For how frustrating the Warriors’ loss to the Dallas Mavericks was on Wednesday night, they found a way to stave off the Houston Rockets in their Texas two-step for the perfect amount of momentum headed into the NBA All-Star break on Thursday night with a 105-98 win at Toyota Center.

Steph Curry scored a game-high 27 points – 15 in the first half and 12 in the second – and made a game-high five 3-pointers. Jimmy Butler tallied 19 points, eight rebounds and four assists, and Brandin Podziemski was the Warriors’ needed third scorer by dropping in 18 points of his own.

The Warriors shot a lowly 26.8 percent on 3-pointers and made 11 overall, one fewer than the Rockets. Instead of the long ball, the Warriors won the game in other areas.

They were 24 of 27 from the free-throw line, a 14-point advantage over the Rockets. Their defense went all-out, especially in the first half, and the unit totaled 13 steals and six blocked shots.

Here are three takeaways from Thursday’s game as the Warriors head into the All-Star break one game above .500 at 28-27.

Buddy Out, Podz In

The Warriors now are tied atop the standings. Well, that is, a list of the most starting lineups in the NBA this season. With their 33rd different starting five, Steve Kerr had Podziemski replace Buddy Hield alongside Curry, Butler, Moses Moody and Draymond Green. Rookie center Quinten Post also was sent to the bench, replaced by Moody.

Hield was a game-worst minus-21 Wednesday night in the Warriors’ loss to the Dallas Mavericks. Podziemski was a team-high plus-13 in 24 minutes off the bench. Something had to give, making Kerr once again trot out another new group to begin Thursday’s game.

The change immediately was warranted. Podziemski scored six points in the first quarter and eight in the second, giving him 14 first-half points – just one behind Curry. And though he only scored two points, Hield was a plus-13 through the first two quarters off the bench.

While Hield never found his shot and finished 1 of 5 from the field…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/learned-steph-warriors-stave-off-195440627.html

Author : NBC Sports BayArea

Publish date : 2025-02-13 19:54:00

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