Now tied at two games apiece, the Warriors and Rockets will travel back to Houston to face each other in Game 5 on Thursday night.
Warriors at RocketsGame 5Thursday, May 246:00 p.m.Toyota CenterHouston, TX
WATCH: TNT
RADIO: 95.7 The Game, Warriors Mobile App and Warriors Radio Network
BACK TO HOUSTON
After dropping Game 4 at home, the Warriors will attempt to bounce back when they travel to Houston to take on the Rockets in Game 5 on Thursday night. This will be the only game in Houston before the series transitions back to the Bay Area for Game 6. Tipoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. (Pacific). Watch the action on TNT, or listen to the call on 95.7 The Game, the Warriors Mobile App and the Warriors Radio Network.
LAST TIME OUT Stephen Curry had another big third quarter, but the Warriors ultimately fell 95-92 to the Rockets in Game 4 on Tuesday night. Full Recap
MATCHUP AT A GLANCE
LAST GAME'S STARTERS
GSW: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andre Iguodala, Kevin Durant, and Draymond Green
HOU: Chris Paul, James Harden, Trevor Ariza, P.J. Tucker and Clint Capela
INJURY & ROSTER NOTES
GSW: Team Notes
HOU: Team Notes
BALL MOVEMENT
The Warriors have led the league in assists in every season during the Steve Kerr era, and when they move the ball effectively, they’ve proven awfully tough to beat. So, perhaps it comes as no surprise that the Warriors are now averaging more than 10 more assists per game in wins (29.1) than they are in losses (19.0) this postseason, after totaling a season-low 14 assists in Game 4 on Tuesday night. The Dubs tallied just three assists in each of the first two quarters, and only a single assist in the decisive fourth frame. In a game that was ultimately decided by just three points, a well-placed pass here or there could have potentially made all the difference. The fact of the matter is that the Rockets are intentionally slowing the pace down, so Golden State inevitably has fewer opportunities per game in which to collect an assist. But when they indulge the Rockets and divert from their ball-movement oriented offense to one more dependent on isolation, it plays right into Houston’s strategy. Now facing what amounts to a best-of-three series without homecourt advantage, the pressure is on Golden State to get back to the kind of offense that has proven so effective over the last several years, and to do so quickly.
TEAM PLAYOFF LEADERS
MISSED OPPORTUNITIES
The Warriors began Game 4 on a 12-0 run, while Houston missed their first eight field goal attempts. Golden State built a double-digit advantage seven times in the opening quarter, and once again in the third frame after outscoring the Rockets 34-17 in that period. Just based on those facts alone, one might assume the Warriors ran away with the game, but their failure to capitalize on their several chances to put the game away ultimately came back to bite them. As good as the Warriors were in the first and third quarters, the Rockets were just as dominant in the second and fourth, outscoring Golden State 59-30 over those two frames combined. Against almost any other team, the Warriors will have a significant advantage when it comes to offensive firepower, but the Rockets are the exception to the rule, and if you give them life, they’re liable to take advantage of it. Looking ahead to Game 5, if the Warriors are able to build a significant lead, they’d be wise to keep their foot on the gas pedal, particularly on the road. You only get so many chances to put a great team away, and with the series now tied, the Warriors must do a better job taking advantage of those opportunities if and when they are presented.