The Golden State Warriors showed their championship mettle Saturday night, shaking off a sluggish start to earn a 104-93 victory over the Houston Rockets and take a 2-1 lead in their first-round series. Stephen Curry, enduring a cold opening stretch, erupted for 36 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds, once again proving why "Playoff Steph" remains one of the most dangerous forces in basketball.

With Jimmy Butler sidelined by a pelvic injury and serving as an animated sideline supporter draped in a fur coat, Curry took it upon himself to steady the Warriors. 

After missing his first three shots from beyond the arc, Curry found his rhythm in the second quarter, pouring in 13 points and dragging Golden State back from a 13-point deficit to within three at halftime.

The Warriors leaned on their depth as well. Buddy Hield delivered 17 points off the bench, drilling five 3-pointers, while Gary Payton II energized the crowd by scoring 11 of his 16 points in the decisive fourth quarter. 

The win marked Golden State’s sixth straight Game 3 victory in a first-round series, a testament to their experience and grit.

Despite an early barrage from Fred VanVleet, who scored Houston’s first nine points and finished with 17, and another solid outing from Alperen Sengun (15 points, 11 rebounds), the Rockets couldn’t capitalize. 

Houston’s frustrations boiled over, particularly for Dillon Brooks, who fouled out with nearly four minutes left after a night spent antagonizing Curry—and the Chase Center faithful.

Golden State will now look to keep the momentum rolling Monday night in Game 4, with the Rockets facing growing pressure—and the Warriors hoping to move one step closer to closing out the series.

Stephen Curry once again reminded everyone why he's a postseason nightmare, shrugging off an early cold stretch to absolutely dominate Game 3. After missing his first three triples, Curry caught fire in the second quarter and never looked back, finishing with 36 points, nine assists, and seven rebounds. When Golden State needed someone to steady the ship, Curry rose to the occasion with another A+ playoff performance.

Gary Payton II provided a huge lift off the bench, especially in the fourth quarter where he poured in 11 of his 16 points to help seal the win. Payton played his usual scrappy, high-energy style, finishing an efficient 7-for-9 from the floor and knocking down a pair of threes. His defensive presence and ability to slash into open spaces added crucial balance to Golden State’s offense when Curry sat, and his timely buckets kept Houston from mounting any late rally.

Buddy Hield gave the Warriors exactly what they needed: instant offense off the bench. The veteran sharpshooter nailed five three-pointers and tallied 17 points in just 29 minutes, spacing the floor beautifully and forcing the Rockets to stay honest defensively. Hield’s ability to catch fire quickly was vital in flipping the momentum when Golden State needed a spark, and he supplemented his scoring with solid hustle on defense, swiping three steals in the process.

It was a typical Draymond Green night filled with good and bad. Green stuffed the stat sheet with 7 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and 3 blocks, providing his trademark defensive toughness and leadership. However, his 5 turnovers and poor shooting night (3-for-11, 0-for-4 from three) prevented a higher grade. 

Though Quinten Post struggled mightily with his shot (just 1-for-7), he impacted the game in other ways, pulling down a team-high 12 rebounds and handing out four assists. Post showed good instincts on the glass and contributed with energy plays, even if his offensive rhythm never materialized. 

Brandin Podziemski had a mixed showing, providing bursts of scoring and hustle plays but struggling from deep (1-for-6 from three). His 10 points, five rebounds, and two assists helped keep the Warriors’ offense flowing during the non-Curry minutes, and his free throw shooting gave him some efficient points despite the poor shooting from outside. Podziemski's ability to stay aggressive and confident, even when the shots weren't falling, was encouraging for Golden State moving forward.

Jonathan Kuminga had a fairly quiet night, finishing with seven points and a single rebound in 17 minutes. He showed flashes of explosiveness with a few strong drives, but he didn’t have the same overall impact he has at times this season. Kuminga's defensive energy was decent, but foul trouble and limited opportunities kept him from finding a rhythm. 

Kevon Looney had a limited but typical "Looney" game—physical and low-scoring. In just 14 minutes, he grabbed five rebounds and played solid positional defense, even though he wasn’t much of a factor offensively. His minutes were used to provide stability and toughness, especially when Houston threatened to crash the offensive glass. 

Moses Moody struggled to find a rhythm offensively, hitting just 3-of-8 shots and 1-of-5 from three en route to three points. He contributed some solid rebounding and ball movement with three boards and two assists but didn’t make a significant impact otherwise.