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Posts tagged as “Podziemski”

Warriors push the Rockets to the brink of elimination in a thrilling Game 4 (109 – 106)

April 29, 2025

The Chase Center was raucous as the Golden State Warriors narrowly defeated the Houston Rockets 109-106 in a thrilling Game 4 of the NBA playoffs’ opening round, pushing Houston to the brink of elimination.

It was a close game where the biggest lead was just 12 points in the first quarter by the Warriors, but this lead was immediately erased by the Rockets in the second quarter. Houston even managed to build a 7-point lead before the end of the first half.

The Warriors were forced to sit Draymond Green in the first half due to foul trouble, but he was pivotal on the defensive end, including the last play against Sengun with 6 seconds remaining. Green finished with 6 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 assists, but his presence was more impactful than the numbers on the stat sheet suggest.

After a slow start, Steph Curry primarily played as a decoy for the majority of the game and added 17 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists.

Jimmy Butler, back from his hip injury sustained in Game 2, led the Warriors with 27 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists. He scored 14 of his 27 points in the final frame, including the Warriors’ last 7 points.

Brandin Podziemski made a significant contribution for the Warriors, scoring 26 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists. He was also a major presence on the defensive end down the stretch, blocking Fred VanVleet’s floater with 2 minutes remaining that could have given the Rockets the lead.

Houston’s leading scorer was Alperen Sengun with 31 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists. Fred VanVleet followed up his Game 2 performance with 25 points and 6 assists. Jalen Green was a non-factor, continuing a trend from Game 3, with just 8 points, 3 rebounds, and one assist. This is a stark contrast to Game 2, where Green was the Rockets’ leading scorer with 38 points and 6 assists.

The Rockets will look to extend the series as they head back home, while the Warriors will try to close it out on Wednesday, April 30th.

Warriors steal Game 1 in Houston, Curry and Butler Combine for 56 Points (95 – 85)

April 21, 2025

The Golden State Warriors drew first blood in their Western Conference Playoffs series against the Houston Rockets, securing a hard-fought 95-85 victory in Game 1 at the Toyota Center on Sunday night. Led by stellar performances from Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler III, the seventh-seeded Warriors upset the second-seeded Rockets, seizing crucial home-court advantage in the process.

Curry, who uncharacteristically struggled in a recent regular-season loss to Houston, was back to his dazzling best. He poured in a game-high 31 points on an efficient 12-of-19 shooting, including five three-pointers, while also grabbing six rebounds. Butler, in his playoff debut for the Warriors after a mid-season trade, provided invaluable support with 25 points, seven rebounds, and six assists. Brandin Podziemski made big plays down the line and was the 3rd leading scorer for the Warriors with 14 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 2 steals.

The Warriors built a commanding 23-point lead in the third quarter, and appears to be running away with the game. However, the young and resilient Rockets fought their way back, lead by Alperen Sengun, who led Houston with 26 points and nine rebounds. A floater by Amen Thompson cut the Warriors’ lead to a mere three points (76-73) with just 6:33 remaining in the game.

But just when the Toyota Center crowd sensed a potential comeback, Curry responded with a timely three-pointer, to extending the Warriors’ lead back to 82-75. Clutch plays from Curry, Butler and Podziemski in the closing minutes kept the Rockets at bay.

This victory marks the 100th career playoff win for Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who now ties Larry Brown for sixth-most playoff wins in league history.

Game 2 of the best-of-seven series will be this Wednesday night in Houston. The Houston Rockets will try to even the series before going to Golden State, while the Warriors will aim to take a commanding 2-0 lead before going back home.