Arjun Menon
Curry Scores 29 Points in Return as Warriors Fall 117-116 to Rockets
Stephen Curry scored 29 points in his first game since January 30, but the Golden State Warriors fell short 117-116 against the Houston Rockets at Chase Center on Sunday night.
The Warriors led early, but Houston seized the advantage midway through the second quarter and held it for almost the entire second half. Golden State mounted multiple comeback attempts, starting with an 11-0 run in the third quarter led by Curry that cut a 15-point deficit to four. The Rockets restored their double-digit lead, only for the Warriors to strike again in the fourth with a 15-3 run, cutting it to 109-107 with just over two minutes remaining.
Kevin Durant answered with a three-pointer for the Rockets, extending their lead to five. Back-to-back buckets from Gary Payton II and Curry trimmed it to one. Alperen Şengün then converted an and-one for Houston, but Curry responded with a 3-pointer under a minute left, cutting the deficit to 115-114.
After a defensive stop, the Warriors called timeout with 33 seconds left. Draymond Green found Payton II on a cut, and his layup bounced off the backboard before a goaltending call gave Golden State a 115-114 lead with 19.6 seconds remaining. Şengün answered with a four-foot shot to put the Rockets ahead 116-115 with 11.1 seconds left. On the final possession, Curry’s three-point attempt fell short.
Curry’s Comeback Performance
Curry returned after missing 27 games due to right patellofemoral pain syndrome. Operating on a minutes restriction, he came off the bench for the first time in a regular season game since March 7, 2012. He shot just 1-for-4 in the first quarter but found his rhythm afterward, scoring 19 of his 29 points in the second half while showcasing his finishing ability at the rim.
Curry reached 9,000 career made field goals in the contest, becoming the 26th player in NBA history to achieve that milestone. Four Warriors scored in double figures: Curry led with 29 points in 26 minutes, Brandin Podziemski added 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting, and Green contributed seven points, 12 assists, and six rebounds. Kevin Durant led all scorers with 31 points for the Rockets, while Şengün added 24 points.
Supporting Cast Steps Up Early
Gui Santos scored eight quick points to spark an early 13-6 Warriors lead. He made his first three attempts, including two 3-pointers and a running hook pass from De’Anthony Melton. Santos finished with 15 points, four rebounds, and two steals. Gary Payton II has scored in double figures in 12 of the last 13 games, showing his two-way impact. He scored 14 points on Sunday, including the go-ahead basket with 19.6 seconds left.
Curry Brothers Share the Court
Sunday marked the first time Stephen Curry and Seth Curry appeared together as Warriors teammates in a regular season game. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, over 40 brother combinations have played on the same team throughout NBA history, but this is the first in Warriors franchise history. The only other brothers playing together this season are Giannis, Thanasis, and Alex Antetokounmpo on the Bucks. Stephen and Seth previously shared 100 seconds on court as preseason teammates in 2013.
Series Concludes
The Rockets won the season series 2-1, though the Warriors have won 18 of the last 23 matchups against Houston. The Warriors have four regular season games remaining. They host the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday (7 p.m. PT) and the Los Angeles Lakers on Thursday (7 p.m. PT) at Chase Center before closing out on the road against the Kings on Friday and the Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday (5:30 p.m.).
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