Warriors gift Rockets Christmas coal in biggest win of 2019, 116-104

With the Warriors struggling, they delivered their biggest win of the season on Christmas day against their rival, the Houston Rockets.

The Warriors playing a primetime game on Christmas Day has turned into a holiday institution. However, the cast may have looked a bit different in 2019, but the group played like a Golden State team of the past. 

The Warriors extended their season-long win streak to three games in a 116-104 victory against the favored Houston Rockets. A statement that seemed impossible to believe a month ago. 

Similarily to the Warriors dynasty run, the win against Houston came on the back of their defense. The Warriors limited the Rockets’ potent offense to 37 percent from the field on 100-total field goal attempts. 

Former MVP, Russell Westbrook went 11-for-32 from the field, missing over 21-total shots. On top of that, he went 0-8 from beyond the arc. James Harden scored 24-points, his lowest total in his last 10-games. 

According to ESPN Stats and Info, the Warriors takedown of the Rockets was the biggest upset on Christmas day in 30-years. 

Damion Lee Career Night

Lee, only on a two-way contract, put a punctuation mark on his case to get a full-time deal in the NBA with a career performance on Christmas day. Lee tallied 22 points, three steals, four assists and a shocking 15 rebounds. Lee’s improbable 14 boards were a career-high with his previous high being 11.

Lee made his best James Harden’s impression, knocking down all 10 of his free-throw shots, and going perfect from beyond the arc on two attempts. Lee’s 22 points led the Warriors and provided a spark to the underdog Warriors in their best all season.

In a game featuring three All-Star guards, the two-way contract player, Lee was the best on the floor.

Draymond Green 

Green sealed his fourth carer Christmas Day double-double with 16-points and 11 rebounds, but how he did it was more important than any stat. When Green is a scoring threat, the Warriors play like a different team, and that showed against Houston.

Green was a +20 in the game, with solid defense up-and-down the floor and several big-time shots. With less than two minutes remaining, Green drilled a three to give the Warriors a 115-99 lead, essentially sealing his team’s Christmas Day victory.

James Harden

MVP candidate James Harden registered a double-double, but it didn’t look like a typical day for Houston’s franchise player. The Warriors were sending double-teams at Harden early and often, and it worked.

The Warriors were able to cut down one of Harden’s best assets— the free-throw line. The All-Star leads the NBA in free-throw attempts, averaging 11 attempts per game, but against the Warriors, he only went to the stripe once and missed.