The Houston Rockets finished winless on their three-game California road trip, in the state after Monday’s 121-116 (box score) loss to Golden State in the finale. The Rockets (6-6), who had won six consecutive games, have suddenly dropped three in a row. Meanwhile, the Warriors (7-8) snapped their six-game skid.
After a slump of late, Steph Curry and Klay Thompson broke out for the hosts with 32 and 20 points, respectively. Curry hit 5-of-9 from 3-point range (55.6%), while Thompson made 5-of-11 (45.5%).
Unlike Houston’s first two games in Los Angeles against the Lakers and Clippers, which were tied in the final 10 seconds, this one wasn’t nearly as close. Fatigue from a third game in four nights certainly didn’t help, and neither did Golden State’s shooting barrage: 21-of-43 (48.8%) from 3-point range.
Standout players for the Rockets were:
- Alperen Sengun: 30 points, 13 rebounds, 5 assists; 13-of-23 shooting (56.5%), 2-of-3 on 3-pointers (66.7%), plus-6 in 37 minutes
- Fred VanVleet: 10 points, 14 assists, 5 rebounds; 3-of-13 shooting (23.1%), 1-of-8 on 3-pointers (12.5%)
- Jabari Smith Jr.: 17 points, 10 rebounds, 2 blocks; 7-of-13 shooting (53.8%), 1-of-5 on 3-pointers (20%)
- Dillon Brooks: 16 points, 5 rebounds; 6-of-13 shooting (46.2%), 2-of-5 on 3-pointers (40%)
- Jalen Green: 16 points, 3 rebounds; 6-of-15 shooting (40%), 2-of-9 on 3-pointers (22.2%)
- Aaron Holiday: 13 points, 4 steals, 4 rebounds; 4-of-5 shooting (80%), 3-of-4 on 3-pointers (75%)
With Holiday playing well and Green struggling both as a shooter and on defense, the veteran played the entire fourth quarter in Green’s place — mostly alongside the other four starters.
Here’s our look at highlights and postgame interviews from Monday night in San Francisco, along with reaction by media members and fans. Next up for Houston is Wednesday’s home game versus Memphis, with the tip from Toyota Center set for 7 p.m. Central.