(Photo: NBA.com)
ORACLE ARENA, OAKLAND, CA — This is a compendium of recaps, to complete the story from last night’s Golden State Warriors 116-112 loss to the Houston Rockets. Our angle focused primarily on Stephen Curry‘s struggles with the resurgent Patrick Beverley, one of the main heroes for the Rockets.
From Monte Poole‘s recap:
The Warriors took a 6-0 lead and quickly lost it. They played most from behind and suffered from acute inaccuracy from 3-point distance by of all players Klay Thompson and Curry. Neither hit a trey until the fourth quarter, and they finished a combined 2-of-11 from long distance.
.
The Warriors made 6 of 22 3-pointers, while the Rockets scorched the nets with 12-of-29 shooting from beyond the arc.
…and later wrote:
“The energy was fine,” coach Mark Jackson said. “We competed, fought, battled. But we were careless at times.”
.
This was a reference to the team’s nagging nuisance, the turnover. Only two teams, Houston and Philadelphia, commit turnovers at a higher rate than the Warriors. They rang up 18 more against the Rockets, leading to 22 Houston points.
.
Yet, in their hearts, the Warriors (13-11) know they likely could have survived that with even mediocre 3-point shooting from snipers Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson. The Splash Brothers shot 11 for 29. Moreover, they made only two of their 12 3-point attempts.
Rusty Simmons‘s recap included inspired play from the much-maligned Marreese Speights:
Marreese Speights was released from the doghouse long enough to lead a comeback attempt, and Houston center Dwight Howard (1-for-1) shot better from three-point range than the Warriors’ sharpshooting backcourt.
.
Speights had season highs in points (16) and rebounds (nine) to make it a game, but Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson made just 2-of-12 three-pointers and combined for half of the team’s 18 turnovers.
.
“I thought we competed, battled and fought, but we were careless at times,” Warriors head coach Mark Jackson said. “We did a lot of good things, but we turned the basketball over, and that costs you.”
…
Curry tied it 96-96 with 4:53 remaining on a three-pointer that marked the first long ball of the night from either Curry or Thompson. But Curry made two turnovers within a minute, and the teams traded baskets before Houston scored five straight. Howard dunked a putback while being fouled and made the free throw for a 103-98 lead with 2:15 left.
.
Though they got beat 56-32 on the boards, 66-40 on points in the paint and 25-8 on second-chance points, the Rockets feasted on the Warriors’ turnovers and raced out in transition for 27 fastbreak points.
Carl Steward also noted the turnovers:
“It was a tough loss for us, but ultimately it was because we turned the ball over too much,” coach Mark Jackson said. “Can’t do that.”
…
“I was trying to impact the game in different kind of ways,” said Speights, who also had nine rebounds. “I knew my scoring was going to come, but I wish we would have gotten the ‘W.’ I just want to win, so the stats don’t mean much.”
…
It was a frustrating defeat because the Warriors seemed poised for another home-court comeback victory. After trailing by as many as 13 at one point and by nine heading into the fourth quarter, the Warriors twice took the lead over the final 12 minutes. They tied the score 98-98 with 3:18 left on Harrison Barnes’ offensive rebound stuff.
.
But Chandler Parsons scored quickly for Houston, and Dwight Howard, who missed much of the fourth quarter because of foul trouble, delivered a three-point play with 2:15 left on a put-back.
.
That gave the Rockets a 103-98 lead the Warriors couldn’t overcome.
Tim Kawakami noted Andrew Bogut‘s frustration by the Warriors’ defense:
(–He complimented the GSW defense to end the third, when he was out and the period ended with the Warriors trailing 82-73, but said the Warriors fumbled in the fourth quarter by letting the Rockets drive to the basket too easily.
.
(–Bogut started the fourth, was in as the Warriors rallied to tie it 89-89, then he came out for David Lee with 7:05 left in the game, with Dwight Howard still in foul trouble and out of the game and Speights putting up points.
.
(–When Bogut came back in less than two minutes later, Houston was up 96-93. The Warriors tied it up immediately on a Curry 3-pointer, and then again at 98, but Houston kept scoring and never trailed.
.
(–Bogut said, “We know if we can put together a 30-minute defensive game, we’re going to win most games.” He played 27 minutes.)
Sarah Todd described Beverley’s game-closing plays, but also noted Jackson’s perspective:
Warriors head coach, Mark Jackson, warned not to put much weight in the two losses to Houston, pointing out Golden State’s position in the playoffs last season:
.
“If you look at their record right now they are the better basketball team, but so was Denver at the end of the year last year.”
…
With just over a minute to go, Patrick Beverley hit a jumper to put the Rockets on top 105-100, and on the following Houston possession he hit another to take a seven point lead.
.
The Warriors were unable to recover and played the foul game before conceding to the Rockets for the second time this season.
Houston coach Kelvin Sampson probably had the best quote of the night. “I kinda figured it was our night when D-12 knocked that three down from the corner and made seven straight free throws,” Sampson said, “I’m not sure he’s ever done that in practice.”
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
