Stephen Curry scores 36 with Butler out as Warriors beat Rockets

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Playoff Steph delivered whereas Playoff Jimmy grew to become his greatest cheerleader on the bench, wearing a full-length fur coat.

Stephen Curry finally discovered his taking pictures groove whereas Houston tried the whole lot to cease him, ending with 36 factors, 9 assists and 7 rebounds to steer the Golden State Warriors previous the Rockets 104-93 on Saturday night time with out Jimmy Butler for a 2-1 lead of their first-round playoff sequence.

“To play 41 minutes against that kind of defense, to have a slow start and then find his rhythm, which we have seen him do countless times over the years, to hit big shots, to only turn it over twice against that kind of pressure, he was brilliant,” coach Steve Kerr mentioned.

Buddy Hield had 17 factors off the bench with 5 3-pointers because the Warriors gained their sixth straight Sport 3 within the opening spherical. Gary Payton II scored 11 of his 16 factors within the fourth quarter.

“To see everyone step up in his absence was huge,” Draymond Inexperienced mentioned.

Sport 4 within the best-of-seven sequence is Monday night time at Chase Middle. The most important query might be whether or not Butler can heal in time to contribute.

The Warriors missed their do-everything ahead after he suffered a pelvic harm and deep gluteal muscle contusion in a tough fall throughout Sport 2.

“You’ve got one task,” Curry mentioned of the crew coming along with Butler out. “Hopefully he’s back next game, or if he’s not we can still play at a high level, we can win a tough, physical playoff game. I think we all know, we’re trying to win 14 more of these. We need Jimmy to do that.”

Fred VanVleet hit consecutive 3-pointers and had a three-point play to attain Houston’s preliminary 9 factors and wound up with 17. Alperen Sengun added 15 factors and 11 rebounds.

The Warriors found out how one can create higher house for Curry, who has 4,053 profession playoff factors and handed Tony Parker (4,045) for tenth most in NBA historical past.

The 37-year-old star missed his three 3-point tries within the opening interval as Golden State went 2 for 13 from lengthy vary, lastly connecting from deep 5:16 earlier than halftime. His 13-point second quarter helped pull Golden State inside 49-46 on the break after trailing by 13.

“I thought the key to the game was the way we closed the second quarter,” Kerr mentioned.

Dillon Brooks fouled out with 3:47 left a day after he defended Amen Thompson’s foul on Butler that led to the harm and known as Inexperienced a “dirty” participant.

Thompson, Brooks and all of the Rockets have been booed throughout pregame introductions.

Then Brooks fouled Curry 11 seconds into the sport. He picked up his second foul on the 5:24 mark of the primary quarter, delighting the group. The followers have been equally thrilled when Sengun drove to the basket and badly missed when attempting for a one-handed slam late within the first. Brooks had 4 fouls by halftime.

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