Houston, Texas: Rockets Beat Warriors 115-108 as Durant Scores 20

The Houston Rockets beat the Golden State Warriors 115-108 on Wednesday night at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. Houston led from the second minute of the game to the final buzzer, built a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter, and held off a late Golden State push to improve to 9-3.

Houston took control in the first quarter. Kevin Durant put the Rockets ahead for good with a 13-foot pullup jumper with 10:06 left in the quarter, and Houston outscored Golden State 35-20 in the period. The quarter also changed the game for the Warriors. Stephen Curry hit a 28-foot three-pointer early in the quarter, then left the game holding his right hip and abdomen area and went back to the locker room with a team trainer. Curry was ruled out for the rest of the game with a right abdominal injury after scoring three points in six minutes.

Golden State answered in the second quarter without its star. The Warriors won the quarter 31-21 and cut the Houston lead to 56-51 at halftime. Yaxel Lendeborg led Golden State with a game-high 25 points and 10 rebounds, and Brandin Podziemski added 22 points, six rebounds and four assists with four three-pointers.

Houston holds the line after halftime

Durant led Houston with 20 points, four rebounds and five assists on 8-of-17 shooting. Alperen Sengun finished with 19 points, 13 rebounds and nine assists, and Amen Thompson added 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists on 8-of-11 shooting. Fred VanVleet scored 18 points with six assists, Jabari Smith Jr. had 14 points and eight rebounds, and Reed Sheppard scored 13 points off the bench.

The third quarter ended with a flashpoint. With 21 seconds left in the quarter during a stoppage, Houston guard Marcus Smart threw a punch that grazed the face of Golden State forward Charles Bassey, USA TODAY reported. Officials reviewed the play, called a flagrant foul 2, and ejected Smart, who had scored six points. Bassey was not disciplined. Houston edged the quarter 29-28 and led 85-79 going into the fourth.

Houston pushed the lead to 111-90 with 3:32 left, its largest of the night, before Golden State closed the game on a run that cut the final margin to seven. The Rockets won the fourth quarter 30-29 and never gave the lead back.

What it means

The loss ended Golden State's eight-game winning streak and dropped the Warriors to 8-4. Houston is now 6-1 at home. Golden State stays in Texas and plays at San Antonio on Friday. Curry's status for that game was not announced on Wednesday night.