HOUSTON (AP) – The Golden State Warriors triumphed over the Houston Rockets with a score of 115-113 in an overtime match on Thursday night, despite being short-handed.
Brandon Podziemski led the Warriors with 26 points, while De’Anthony Melton contributed 23 points to the win.
With approximately 30 seconds remaining in overtime, the Warriors held a three-point lead when Kevin Durant was fouled during a three-point attempt. He successfully made two free throws, but missed the third. Golden State secured the rebound, allowing Melton to score a tip-in layup with just 5.3 seconds left, extending the lead to 115-112.
Game Highlights
Durant later made one of two free throws, and a subsequent foul by the Rockets enabled the Warriors to maintain their lead. Al Horford added 17 points for the Warriors, who played without Stephen Curry, who missed his 12th consecutive game due to a knee injury. The team anticipates Curry will be re-evaluated around Tuesday.
Rockets Performance
Reed Sheppard was the standout for the Rockets, scoring 30 points, including six three-pointers, while Durant finished the game with 23 points. The score was tied with less than three minutes remaining in overtime before Podziemski hit a three-pointer, followed by a layup that provided Golden State a 111-106 advantage.
Tense Final Moments
Amen Thompson made one of two free throws, rebounding his own miss afterward. Durant then hit a three-pointer to narrow the gap to one point. Horford responded with a basket, pushing the score to 113-110. Alperen Sengun had earlier given the Rockets a brief lead in regulation with a short basket before Horford’s three-pointer put the Warriors ahead at 101-99.
Another basket from Sengun tied the game with approximately 30 seconds left in regulation. A foul on Melton by Durant with 6.5 seconds remaining was challenged but ultimately upheld. The Warriors won the jump ball but faced a turnover from Gui Santos with only 0.3 seconds left, allowing Thompson to attempt a shot under the basket, which missed, resulting in overtime.