Kevin Durant scored 20 points, while Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson each contributed 19 points as the Houston Rockets ended Golden State’s eight-game winning streak with a 115-108 victory on Wednesday night.
Curry Injury Concerns
The Warriors played the majority of the contest without Stephen Curry after the star guard exited in the first quarter due to right abdominal soreness, failing to return to the floor. He was scheduled to undergo an MRI to determine the severity of the issue. Following the final buzzer, Golden State coach Steve Kerr acknowledged his anxiety regarding the setback, stating that concern was high while noting he had no immediate idea of the extent of the injury.
Golden State holds an 8-4 record this season despite dealing with numerous health problems. Prior to Wednesday’s game, Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody were already sidelined with knee injuries, while center Kristaps Porziņģis has stepped away from the sport indefinitely due to an undisclosed health condition.
Curry missed extended stretches last year while the team struggled mightily, but teammate Draymond Green expressed confidence that the squad is better equipped to handle his absence currently. Green pointed to a stronger team spirit, greater clarity regarding their identity, and contributions from players like Yaxel Lendeborg and Brandin Podziemski as reasons for optimism.
Smart Ejection and Bassey Reaction
The game also featured a late-third-quarter altercation that resulted in the ejection of Houston’s Marcus Smart after he punched Golden State’s Charles Bassey. Although the initial catalyst for the confrontation was ambiguous, Smart threw a punch that appeared to make glancing contact with Bassey’s nose. Swift intervention from two Warriors players and an official who restrained Bassey prevented further escalation, and Smart walked directly toward the locker room before referees officially finalized his Flagrant 2 foul and ejection upon review.
Bassey criticized his opponent after the match, alleging that Smart had targeted his knee during a screen in the first half and accused him of displaying fake toughness. Bassey stated that Smart grabbed his hand during a rebounding sequence and swung at him as they transitioned to defense, adding his belief that the opposing player simply wanted to exit the match early.
The defeat halted Golden State’s longest winning run since 2022 on an evening where their offensive output fell significantly short of their 120.4-point season average. Entering the matchup averaging 30.6 points per game to rank second in the NBA, Curry finished with only three points before his departure. In his absence, Lendeborg paced the Warriors with 25 points and 10 rebounds, complemented by 22 points from Podziemski.
