With star guard Stephen Curry sidelined due to an ankle injury, the Golden State Warriors compensated for the missing firepower with a strong defensive performance in their recent game.
Golden State clamped down on the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday, winning 104-89 and sweeping their back-to-back set. The Warriors will aim for another dominant defensive display on Saturday when they visit the Houston Rockets, kicking off a five-game road trip.
Curry missed both games against New Orleans after suffering a left peroneal strain during Golden State’s loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday. In their first game without the two-time MVP, the Warriors rallied from a 20-point deficit to win 124-106.
The following night, Golden State held the Pelicans to 36.7 percent shooting, surrendering their second-fewest points in a game this season. Draymond Green anchored the defense with five blocked shots—his highest total in three years. Four of those blocks came against All-Star Zion Williamson, who shot a career-worst 25 percent from the floor (5-for-20).
Green wasn’t alone in setting a tough defensive tone. Golden State coach Steve Kerr praised fellow forward Kyle Anderson for his ability to read the game and influence the Warriors’ defensive strategy. The combination of Green and Anderson provides Golden State with significant defensive versatility, making Curry’s absence easier to manage.
The Rockets passed an early-season test on Thursday with a 108-102 road win over the Dallas Mavericks, a type of game Houston might have lost last season.
After building a 23-point lead late in the third quarter, the Rockets held on down the stretch. Dallas cut the deficit by seven points by the end of the third, and the Rockets made just one field goal over the first five-plus minutes of the fourth. However, after the Mavericks closed to within 100-97, Houston steadied itself to secure the win.
Guard Jalen Green was pivotal for the Rockets, scoring twice on drives to the rim to end the early fourth-period drought. Green then nailed a crucial 3-pointer to put Houston up 103-97. Amen Thompson and Dillon Brooks added turnaround jumpers that sealed the victory. Jalen Green (23 points, 12 rebounds) and Alperen Sengun (17 points, 12 rebounds) recorded double-doubles, while four other Rockets scored in double figures. This collective effort, which Houston occasionally lacked last season, bodes well for the team’s future.
