Warriors Fall Short Against Rockets Despite Balanced Scoring

The Golden State Warriors suffered a setback on March 6, 2024, losing to the Houston Rockets 104-100 at Chase Center in San Francisco. Despite having six players score in double figures, the Warriors could not overcome a disappointing performance from star player Steph Curry, who left the game limping in the final minutes after a poor shooting night.

Curry managed only 14 points on 4-of-13 shooting, alongside six turnovers. This marked just the fifth time in the season that the two-time MVP failed to score at least 20 points, having entered the game with a total of 103 points over his previous three outings.

Houston’s Reed Sheppard led the Rockets with a career-high 28 points from 25 shots. Meanwhile, the team also capitalized on their rebounding, collecting a remarkable 23 offensive rebounds by the end of the third quarter, surpassing their season-high of 20.

Game Highlights and Key Performances

The game began with a competitive spirit, as the Warriors held a slim lead of 43-42 with just over three minutes left in the second quarter. However, they rallied impressively, closing the first half with a 16-5 run to take a 59-47 lead into halftime. Throughout the half, rookie Will Richard stood out, scoring 18 points and grabbing six rebounds, three of which were offensive.

A highlight moment came early in the third quarter when Curry delivered a no-look pass to Richard, who executed a turnaround jumper just as the shot clock expired. However, the Rockets showed resilience, responding with ten offensive rebounds in the third quarter alone and outscoring the Warriors 27-17 during that period. A buzzer-beater from Quinten Post gave Golden State a narrow 76-74 lead heading into the fourth quarter.

The final period saw the Rockets surge, taking their first lead with a three-pointer from Aaron Holiday. Houston’s lead extended to eight points, but Richard’s layup with less than four minutes remaining tied the game at 91.

In a crucial moment, Brandin Podziemski missed three consecutive free throws, even after receiving an additional opportunity due to a lane violation by Houston. This proved costly as the Rockets capitalized on the Warriors’ struggles, maintaining their lead down the stretch.

With only 5.8 seconds left, Moses Moody hit a three-pointer to narrow the score to 102-100, but the Warriors failed to complete their comeback as time expired.

The defeat leaves the Warriors reflecting on missed opportunities as they prepare for their next matchup. As the season progresses, maintaining consistency will be critical for Golden State, especially as they look to bolster their playoff positioning.