The Houston Rockets staved off elimination Wednesday night in a 131-116 win over the Golden State Warriors at home.
All five of Houston’s starters scored double-digit points in a dominant showing to force a Game 6. The series heads back to San Francisco on Friday night.
Rockets 131, Warriors 116
(Warriors lead series 3-2)
Rockets dominate on both ends of the floor
The Rockets, who trailed 3-1 before Wednesday night, could have easily thrown in the towel against a veteran Warriors team. Instead, they buckled down, got back to the basics and dominated at both ends of the floor to earn a trip back to the Bay and give themselves a fighting chance in this series. The Rockets led by as many as 31 points in a game that was never truly threatened by the Warriors.
Hearing Fred VanVleet speak after a bitter Game 4 loss, it was evident he would assume responsibility from the onset. He led all players with 26 points and gave Houston the necessary cushion to see the game through. Three Rockets starters scored 24 or more points, lending to the equal-opportunity offensive approach that has gotten them thus far.
Defensively, Game 5 was nothing new for Houston’s aggression or versatility. Amen Thompson led the way with five steals, but this was a collective effort to pressure Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler, who combined for 21 points on 6-for-22 shooting. Can the Rockets carry this momentum into Game 6 in San Francisco? — Kelly Iko, Rockets beat writer
Where was the Warriors’ defense?
Warriors coach Steve Kerr pulled the plug with 18 minutes still left in Game 5. Down 29 points, he benched his starters, leaving these final-minute totals for his older stars: Butler 25, Curry 23 and Draymond Green 18.
The Warriors’ third-teamers made it briefly interesting, slicing Houston’s lead down to 13, forcing Rockets coach Ime Udoka to insert his starters back into the game and even inciting a fourth-quarter skirmish. But the Rockets’ blowout result held, setting up a crucial Game 6. The only benefit to the Warriors during Wednesday night’s no-show was the low-stress minute totals for their main guys.
The Warriors gained control of this series on the defensive end, holding the Rockets below 30 points in 14 of the first 16 quarters and below 100 in two of the three wins. That flipped in Game 5. The Rockets scorched them for 40 first-quarter points, made their first 14 free throws (after what had been a previously terrible series from the line) and crossed the 100-point mark at the 2:54 mark of the third quarter.
The Warriors didn’t bring the proper level of defensive focus and seemed content letting this series extend to a sixth game instead of trying to hunt a comeback against a desperate Rockets team. — Anthony Slater, Warriors beat writer
(Photo: Alex Slitz / Getty Images)