The effort was much improved for the young Houston Rockets relative to Friday’s ugly home loss to Indiana, but the defending NBA champion Warriors had too much offense from future Hall of Fame guards Steph Curry and Klay Thompson in Golden State’s 127-120 victory (box score) on Sunday night at Toyota Center.
Thompson scored a season-high 41 points on an astounding 10-of-13 from 3-point range (76.9%), while Curry made 7-of-14 on 3-pointers (50%) while dropping 33 points and a season-high 15 assists. The Warriors (8-9) won on the road for the first time this season.
Rookie forwards Jabari Smith Jr. and Tari Eason each had career highs in scoring for the Rockets (3-14), with Smith posting 22 points and 7 rebounds on 8-of-14 shooting (57.1%) in 32 minutes and Tari Eason adding 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 3 steals in 23 minutes off the bench. Eason made 8-of-14 shots (57.1%) from the field.
“He was incredible,” Warriors defensive ace Draymond Green said postgame when asked about Eason. “I like Tari. Those are the type of guys that stick and become somebody in this league.”
Kevin Porter Jr. returned after missing one game with a sore back and scored a team-high 30 points for Houston on 10-of-19 shooting (52.6%) and 5-of-11 on 3-pointers (45.5). Porter also dished a team-high 6 assists to only 2 turnovers. Unfortunately, Porter’s strong backcourt game was offset by a dud from Jalen Green, who scored 16 points on 4-of-15 shooting (26.7%) and 1-of-8 on 3-pointers (12.5%).
Scroll on for highlights, analysis, and postgame interviews at Toyota Center. Houston’s four-game homestand continues with a third matchup Friday versus Atlanta, with tipoff set for 7 p.m. Central.