Game Preview: Warriors vs. Rockets - 11/20/23

FINAL GAME OF HOMESTAND
The Warriors will conclude their six-game homestand by hosting the Houston Rockets on Monday at 7 p.m. The Dubs will be seeking their first win on the homestand, having dropped their previous five home games. After playing the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday, the Rockets will be playing on the second night of a back-to-back as they finish their California road trip. After winning six straight games, the Rockets are 0-2 on the road trip, losing to the Clippers 106-100 on Friday and Lakers 105-104 on Sunday. Houston has yet to win an away game this season (0-4).

COMING TO THE GAME?
San Francisco will continue to host the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation through Monday, Nov. 20, resulting in road closures, detours, and changes to transit service. If you are coming to the game, it is highly recommended that you leave early and plan your trip well in advance. » Learn More

LAST TIME OUT
Andrew Wiggins scored a season-high 31 points and hit a season-high five 3-pointers, including a go-ahead splash with 1.6 seconds remaining. Still, the Warriors could not close the game, losing to the Oklahoma City Thunder 130-123 at Chase Center on Saturday. Chet Holmgren tied the game at the end of regulation with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer and Shai Gilegous-Alexander scored 10 of his game-high 40 points in overtime for the Thunder. Stephen Curry returned for the Warriors after missing the previous two games and scored 25 points in 40 minutes. » Full Game Recap

PREVIOUS GAME STARTERS
GSW: Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green and Kevon Looney
HOU: Fred VanVleet, Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, Jabari Smith Jr., Alperen Sengun

INJURY & ROSTER NOTES
GSW: Draymond Green (league suspension) and Gary Payton II (left foot strain) are out. Trayce Jackson-Davis (left lower leg soreness) is probable. Team Notes
HOU: Alperen Sengun (lower back contusion) is questionable. Amen Thompson (right ankle sprain), Tari Eason (lower left leg injury management) and Victor Oladipo (left patellar tendon repair) are out. Team Notes

SENSE OF URGENCY TO SNAP LOSING STREAK
Following Saturday's 130-123 overtime loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Warriors' sixth consecutive defeat, Stephen Curry believes the team has a sense of urgency to end the skid. 

“With a losing streak like this, there’s urgency for sure," Curry said postgame. "When it’s this many [losses] in a row, it’s a problem you’ve got to fix. You don’t want to develop a losing mentality.”

Curry believes the group can maintain confidence in themselves and their ability to figure it out but understands that they must do so together. Jonathan Kuminga said that the losing streak has actually brought the team together more.

"I feel like it’s bringing us together even more because once we get over these lows, things are going to change and nobody is going to remember six losses in a row because once we start rolling, everything will be just fine," Kumimga said.

The Warriors will have an opportunity to get back on track on Monday. 

HOUSTON SCOUTING REPORT
The Houston Rockets won six consecutive games before losing to the Los Angeles Clippers 106-100 on Friday. That marked their first loss since losing to the Warriors in Houston 106-95 on Oct. 29. Under their new coach, Ime Udoka, the Rockets have improved significantly on the defensive end of the floor, posting the league's fourth-best defensive rating (108.1). Newly acquired guards Dillon Brooks and Fred VanVleet have been vital contributors, particularly on that end of the floor. Brooks averages 13.7 points per game and has been very efficient with an effective field goal percentage of 61.9 percent. VanVleet averages 17.2 points per game and ranks fifth in assists per game (8.8 APG).