Loading...
The Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors meet again tonight at Chase Center for a pivotal Game 4 in their Western Conference first-round series. After the Rockets and Warriors split the first two games in Houston, Golden State responded with a composed Game 3 win on their home floor, taking a 2–1 series lead and placing all the pressure squarely on the young Rockets heading into a must-win scenario in Game 4.
It’s been a fast-paced, high-drama series —a true clash of styles and generations. The Warriors, led by Stephen Curry and newly acquired Jimmy Butler (though Butler was sidelined in Game 3), are trying to make another deep playoff run behind their battle-tested core. The Rockets, meanwhile, are making their first postseason appearance since 2020, led by Jalen Green, Alperen Şengun and Fred VanVleet. This series has already been a proving ground for Houston, and the lessons are coming quickly.
The series opened at the Toyota Center, and Houston came out swinging in Game 1, but ultimately the Warriors prevailed by 10. Alperen Şengun added 26 points and 9 rebounds, showcasing his ability to facilitate and finish. But Golden State, as it has so many times before, relied on Stephen Curry’s clutch gene down the stretch. Curry finished with 31 points and 3 assists. Jimmy Butler contributed 25 points and brought his usual defensive edge. Houston turned the ball over 16 times, and the Warriors capitalized with fast-break points and sharp execution in the halfcourt to take Game 1, 95–85.
In Game 2, the Rockets responded with maturity and urgency. Once again, Jalen Green was the driving force—this time dropping 38 points on a barrage of confident jumpers, transition attacks and strong finishes at the rim. His shot selection was sharper, and the Rockets played with better spacing and discipline overall. Şengun contributed with efficient scoring and timely passing out of double teams, finishing with 17 points, 16 rebounds and 7 assists. Defensively, Houston made the necessary adjustments—running Curry off the three-point line and doing a better job communicating through screens. Curry still scored 20 points, but the Warriors struggled to find reliable secondary scoring. Houston led nearly wire-to-wire, closing out a 109–94 win to even the series before heading to the Bay Area.
Game 3 marked a shift. Playing without Jimmy Butler, who was ruled out due to injury, the Warriors turned to their depth and discipline. Curry led the way again with 36 points and 9 assists, while Buddy Hield and Gary Payton II stepped up with crucial 17 and 16-point nights, playing tough defense and knocking down timely shots. Golden State packed the paint and threw different looks at Jalen Green, who struggled mightily, finishing with just 9 points on 4-of-11 shooting. Şengun continued to be Houston’s most reliable force, recording 15 points and 11 rebounds, but the Rockets shot just 39% from the field overall and couldn’t string together enough stops. Golden State had a great fourth quarter, pulling away 104–93 and taking a 2–1 series lead with a chance to put a stranglehold on the matchup in Game 4.
With Game 4 looming, the pressure now shifts entirely to Houston. If they want to avoid falling into a 3–1 hole, they’ll need a big-time response from their stars, starting with Jalen Green. Expect Ime Udoka to make offensive adjustments, perhaps using more off-ball action or high screens to get Green clean looks early and re-establish his confidence.
On the Warriors’ side, Curry remains the engine. As long as he’s controlling the pace and hitting timely shots, Golden State is tough to beat in the clutch. Guys like Moses Moody and Gary Payton II will again be key defensively, especially if Butler misses tonight’s game.
Looking at this game from a DFS perspective, Curry is a must-watch for his scoring ability in DFS lineups, while Şengün’s high usage and rebounding make him one of the more consistent frontcourt options in the series. And after a down game in Game 3, Jalen Green feels due for a bounce-back, especially with his team’s season on the line.
After a tough outing in Game 3, look for Houston to put the ball in Green’s hands early and let him dictate the tempo. If he finds his rhythm, the Rockets will have a real shot to steal one on the road and send this series back to Houston tied 2–2.
The series has delivered high drama and huge swings already, but Game 4 is where things truly get serious.
Dylan has had a love for sports since he was a kid. Four years ago, he decided to dive into the sports content-creating industry specializing in Fantasy Football, NFL and NBA. He has since had his work published on sites that include Fantasy Alarm, Fansided, and Fantasy Six Pack.