Houston Rockets 115, Golden State Warriors 108: a 35-point first quarter and the paint

The Golden State Warriors never led in Houston. A 35-20 first quarter put them 15 points down, and the Houston Rockets held on 115-108 at Toyota Center on Wednesday night by living near the rim. Houston outscored Golden State 42-22 in the paint.

The loss ends a Warriors winning streak at eight games. Golden State falls to 8-4. Houston moves to 9-3.

Yaxel Lendeborg led the Warriors with 23 points and 10 rebounds. Kevin Durant scored 18 for Houston, one of three Rockets between 16 and 18 points. Full prices and the matchup history are on the game page.

How it was won

The game turned in the first 12 minutes. Houston scored 35 points in the opening quarter, and the Warriors spent the next three quarters chasing a deficit that matched the Rockets' largest lead of the night, 15.

Golden State did chip at it. The Warriors won the second quarter 28-21 to trail 56-48 at the half. The third was even at 28 apiece, leaving the score 84-76 entering the fourth. Golden State took the final quarter 32-31, which was not nearly enough. Every quarter after the first was close. The first was not.

The box score explains the shape of it. Houston shot 34 of 69 from the field, 49 percent, and did most of its work inside. Golden State shot 25 of 62, 40 percent, and leaned on the three-point line.

That approach kept the Warriors in range. They made 12 of 35 threes against Houston's 7 of 26, a 36-21 edge from deep. But the Rockets' 20-point margin in the paint swallowed it, and Houston's extra nine made field goals did the rest.

The rest of the numbers were close. Rebounds were 33-31 to Houston. Both teams turned it over 10 times. Houston had 19 assists to Golden State's 17. The Warriors got to the line more, 16 attempts to 10, but made only 11. Houston went 9 of 10.

Lendeborg was the Warriors' most reliable source of offense, though he went 2 of 7 from three and did not record an assist. Brandin Podziemski added 13 points, five rebounds and four assists but shot 2 of 8 from deep. De'Anthony Melton had 8 points and made 2 of his 3 threes.

For Houston, Durant had 18 points, four rebounds and four assists while going 1 of 4 from three. Alperen Sengun was the hub inside with 17 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Amen Thompson added 16 points and seven rebounds. Houston did not need a big night from beyond the arc. It needed the paint, and it got it.

Against the number

Houston closed at -6.5 and won by seven, covering by half a point. The Warriors' 32-point fourth quarter brought it to the edge, but not over.

The total closed at 219.5. The teams combined for 223, so the over cashed by 3.5 points, helped along by a final quarter that produced 63 points.

On the moneyline, Golden State closed at +205 and Houston at -249. The favorite won outright and covered. For anyone who backed the Warriors at plus money on the strength of the streak, the first quarter settled it early.

What's next

The Warriors stay in Texas and visit the San Antonio Spurs on Friday, November 13. The game airs on Prime Video. Golden State's three losses before Wednesday all came in a row to open the season, followed by eight straight wins, so Friday is the first test of how this group responds to a loss since then.

Houston's next game was not included in the schedule information available to us. Check the Rockets' team page for the next matchup and prices as they post.