Golden State starts playoffs with a rout of Houstonhttp://espn.go.com/blog/golden-state-warriors/post/_/id/1698/golden-state-starts-playoffs-with-a-rout-of-houstonOAKLAND, Calif. -- Notes from the Golden State Warriors' 104-78 win over the Houston Rockets in Game 1 in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs:
The Rockets started out with Trevor Ariza at power forward and Corey Brewer at small forward. They decided to go small to match Golden State's speed.
It took over 2 1/2 minutes for the Rockets to score their first points.
At the 6:31 mark, Stephen Curry scuffled with Patrick Beverley. It seemed, after reaching in, that Beverley did not readily unlock arms with Curry, prompting a shove from the MVP. Both players received technicals.
It was 18-6 Warriors with 4:44 left in the first, eventually leading to a 33-15 Warriors lead to end the quarter. The Rockets' offense got destroyed in the first half.
Dwight Howard and Beverley got mixed up on two rebounds in a row. Rebounds had a tendency to bounce off Howard’s hands in this game.
Curry unleashed a 28-foot transition bomb over Harden. He was in peak form in the first half, scoring 24 points. That is, until what happened next.
Curry missed a push shot with 2:12 left in the half. As he turned to get back on defense, he appeared to injure his right foot. On the next dead ball, with 1:07 remaining, Shaun Livingston subbed in for Curry, who eventually limped to the locker room.
Curry returned to action at the beginning of the third quarter, didn’t look right, was quickly subbed out and headed back to the locker room. His night finished right there at 20 minutes, scoring 24 points on 13 shots, with a plus-28.
The Warriors’ lead started to ebb after Curry’s exit until they turned the game around by punishing Houston’s awful transition defense. Draymond Green was key during the Curry-less minutes.
Klay Thompson, who has had his playoff struggles, wasn’t in top form. He finished 4-of-14 for 16 points.
Perhaps Thompson was just extra focused on the defensive end. In last year’s playoff series, he had trouble containing Harden. This time, he was patient and didn’t get caught on Harden’s fakes. Harden finished with only 17 points, six turnovers, and registered a minus-27. Most notably, Harden didn’t earn a single free throw.
Curry returned to the bench in the third quarter, but couldn’t quite lobby his way back into the game.