The Warriors are back on the road as they head to Houston for Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals on Saturday.
Warriors vs. RocketsSaturday, May 45:30 p.m.Toyota CenterHouston, TX
WATCH: ABC, NBCSBA
RADIO: 95.7 The Game, ESPNR, Warriors Mobile App and Warriors Radio Network
RETURN OF THE ROAD WARRIORS
After finishing the regular season tied for the best road record in the NBA (27-14), the Warriors went 3-0 on the road in their first round playoff series with the Clippers. Now, the Dubs hope for that road magic to continue in Houston as the Dubs visit the Rockets on Saturday for Game 3 of the Western Conference Semifinals. The Dubs protected their home court in the first two games of the series and head into Houston up 2-0 in the series. Now with three full days between games, the Warriors will look to activate that ‘Road Warrior’ mentality and take command of the series on the road.
LAST TIME OUTThe Dubs held it down on Tuesday night at Oracle Arena, earning a 115-109 victory over the Houston Rockets and gaining a 2-0 series lead in the Western Conference Semifinals. » Full Recap
MATCHUP AT A GLANCE
LAST GAME'S STARTERS
GSW: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Andre
Iguodala
HOU: P.J. Tucker, Clint Capela, Chris Paul, James Harden and Eric Gordon
INJURY & ROSTER NOTES
GSW: DeMarcus Cousins (left quadriceps tear) and Damian Jones (left pectoral surgery) are out. Team Notes
HOU: None. Team Notes
IT’S ALL ABOUT BALANCEThe Warriors’ versatility was on display on Tuesday, as a balanced scoring effort helped lead the team to a Game 2 victory. The overall production from both the starters and bench were outstanding, with Klay Thompson sharing, “One guy could go for 50 or we could have a balanced effort; that’s the beauty of our team.” The Warriors’ shared production also marked the first-time in franchise postseason that all five starters scored 15-or-more points in the same game. In addition to their collective scoring effort, the Dubs’ defensive intensity was visible with the Warriors forcing 17 turnovers against the Rockets; and the squad converting those turnovers into prime scoring opportunities. As the series continues, the Dubs’ defensive intensity coupled with the team’s balanced scoring effort presents a considerable postseason challenge.
TEAM PLAYOFF LEADERS
HOUSTON SCOUTING REPORT
Though the Rockets showed signs of resurgence, Houston’s hustle in the second half was not enough to overcome the Dubs in Game 2. The Rockets played the perimeter, connecting on 17 of their 40 long-range shots and closing a 15-point deficit to just three in the final quarter. While James Harden struggled with an eye injury early in the night, he managed to record 29 points alongside Chris Paul who tallied 18 points and served six assists. Guard Austin Rivers made his series debut on Tuesday, posting 11 of his 14 points in the first half. Rivers, Tucker and Capela were significant contributors to Houston’s offense, combining 41 points and 21 rebounds, with Tucker and Capela grabbing 10 rebounds each. As the Warriors gain a 2-0 series lead, the pressure is on the Rockets with the series shifting to Houston for Games 3 and 4.