The Golden State Warriors’ eight-game winning streak ended Wednesday night in Houston, and it unraveled early when Steph Curry went down with an abdominal injury in the first quarter and was ruled out for the rest of the game.
That loss of firepower showed up right away. The Rockets jumped out to a 15-point lead in the opening quarter, putting Golden State on its heels before the Warriors even had a chance to settle in.
Still, the Warriors found a way to hang around. Yaxel Lendeborg sparked the response in the second quarter, scoring 13 points in the frame as Golden State trimmed the deficit from 15 to five by halftime. Lendeborg entered the break with 18 points, leading all scorers and keeping the Warriors within reach.
The third quarter brought more edge to the game. A Rockets veteran guard was ejected after throwing a punch at Golden State big man Charles Bassey, and with only seconds left in the period, Smart was tossed while Houston held an eight-point lead.
Golden State made one more push to open the fourth. Georges Niang and De’Anthony Melton knocked down consecutive 3-pointers, slicing the Rockets’ advantage to three.
Ime Udoka immediately called timeout, and Houston answered with a decisive burst. The Rockets scored eight straight points, with Reed Sheppard drilling two 3-pointers in that stretch.
Sheppard finished with three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, helping Houston shut the door on any comeback attempt. Without Curry, the Warriors couldn’t generate enough offense late, and Houston closed out a 115-108 win.
Lendeborg led the Warriors with 25 points on 9-of-19 shooting, adding 10 rebounds and two steals in 36 minutes. Brandin Podziemski finished with 22 points on 7-of-15 shooting, along with six rebounds, four assists and two steals. LJ Cryer gave Golden State a lift off the bench with 13 points and three made 3-pointers in 18 minutes.
The Warriors now have Thursday off before facing Victor Wembanyama and the defending Western Conference champion San Antonio Spurs on Friday.
In Other News...
Jimmy Butler's Rehab Just Raised A New Warriors Question
Jimmy Butlers recovery from a torn ACL has already become one of the more closely watched storylines around Golden State, and his latest step has only added another layer to it. Butler has said he wants to get into a G League game for the Santa Cruz Warriors before he makes his way back to the Warriors lineup, a plan that would give him a live-game test in a lower-pressure setting as he works his way through rehab.
For Golden State, the idea is intriguing because it would offer a clearer bridge between the training room and the NBA floor, but it still depends on medical clearance from the teams staff. Steve Kerr has welcomed the possibility, though it remains unclear whether the Santa Cruz appearance would become an official part of Butlers rehabilitation path, leaving the Warriors with one more question to sort out as his return draws closer. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Trade Need Suddenly Feels Real After Curry Injury
Stephen Currys oblique injury has changed the temperature around Golden State almost overnight, turning a roster conversation into something far more urgent. Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints reported that the Warriors are now looking at potential trade targets such as Wendell Carter Jr. and Naz Reid as they try to steady a frontcourt that suddenly looks thinner than expected.
Carter has been performing well this season for the Orlando Magic, and the idea of adding a player with a similar profile to Kristaps Porzingis gives the Warriors a clearer sense of the type of move they may be chasing. For now, though, it remains speculative, with any real path forward depending on negotiations between Golden State and Orlando, and on how aggressively the Warriors decide to respond to Currys absence. [Read more 🡒]
Warriors Face A New Trade Problem In Porzingis Pursuit
The NBAs draft lottery reform has quietly changed the trade market, and it may be making life harder for the Warriors as they try to sort through a Kristaps Porzingis pursuit. With the incentive to bottom out reduced, fewer low-performing teams are eager to move veteran pieces, which means the usual pool of sellers is thinner than it once was. For Golden State, that can turn a straightforward search for a deal into a much narrower hunt.
So the Warriors may have to look elsewhere for a workable path, and that likely means teams dealing with financial pressure rather than teams chasing the lottery. The Phoenix Suns and Orlando Magic stand out as possible partners in that kind of framework, but the broader point is clear: this is no longer just about finding a team willing to trade, it is about finding one with the right mix of need and flexibility. [Read more 🡒]