The noise before Game 1 was deafening. But once the ball tipped off, one man silenced everything—with a stretch of play the NBA might be talking about for years.
The Golden State Warriors entered their playoff matchup against the Houston Rockets with more questions than confidence. Pundits called them too old, too thin, and too reliant on the past. Steph Curry, they said, couldn’t carry this version of the Warriors anymore.
And then Game 1 happened.
No one saw it coming—not like this.
In front of a sold-out crowd and a national television audience, Curry delivered a performance that was both surgical and spectacular. He didn’t just dominate—he took over the game in ways that only a handful of players in NBA history ever could.
SHAQ STUNNED LIVE ON AIR
On NBA GameTime, Shaquille O’Neal’s face said it all. As footage rolled of Curry’s 11-for-12 shooting stretch, Shaq shook his head.
“That’s greatness,” he said flatly. “I’ve seen the best do it—and that’s up there. You don’t beat that. You just hope it ends.”
Danny Green, watching alongside him, added, “You can’t have a 13-point quarter against Steph Curry. You just can’t. He’ll punish you.”
HOW IT ALL UNFOLDED
The Rockets came out with energy. Their big lineup—Adams, Sengun, and Jabari Smith Jr.—caused issues early. Houston dominated second-chance points, out-rebounded the Warriors by 16, and imposed their physicality in the paint.
But basketball is more than matchups.
Curry started slow—missing his first three shots. And then something clicked.
Over a nine-minute stretch, Steph Curry turned the game into his personal showcase. He hit step-backs, deep threes, floaters, and free throws. Every Rockets defensive scheme—switches, traps, zones—failed.
By halftime, the Warriors had turned a four-point deficit into a 10-point lead.
Houston never recovered.
ROCKETS’ MELTDOWN EXPOSED
Coach Ime Udoka faced the media postgame with a tone of frustration.
“Our defense wasn’t bad. We held them to 95 points,” he said. “But we didn’t play smart. We turned it over 16 times. Missed eight free throws. Missed layups. You do that against Steph? You lose.”
Jalen Green, the young star Houston hoped would shine in the postseason, struggled to get going. His shot selection was questionable, his decision-making shaky, and his body language—by the fourth quarter—was deflated.
Fred VanVleet didn’t fare better. The veteran guard couldn’t buy a bucket, and was routinely outplayed by Warriors defenders.
Jabari Smith Jr. was one of the few bright spots, but even his effort wasn’t enough to erase the team’s offensive disarray.
KERR’S CALCULATED CHANGES
Steve Kerr, often praised for his in-game adjustments, leaned into his veteran core. He started Draymond Green at center and placed Jimmy Butler—yes, recently acquired—at the four. The small-ball lineup was undersized, but ferocious.
Draymond set the tone defensively, while Butler brought energy and rebounding help.
Kerr praised Steph postgame.
“He’s seen every defense in the book,” the coach said. “And he still finds a way to kill you. That’s what makes him different. That’s what makes him great.”
A SERIES DEFINED EARLY?
It’s only Game 1. But if you believe in momentum, this felt seismic.
Golden State looked connected. Confident. Composed.
Houston? Rattled.
They have the size. They have the talent. But after a season of taking steps forward, they seemed to take a step back at the worst time.
Udoka said the team wouldn’t panic. But there was concern in his voice—especially when asked about Curry.
“You can’t give him space,” he admitted. “And we gave him too much.”
NEXT MOVES
The Rockets will need to make serious adjustments. Their big lineup works in theory, but the perimeter defense was exploitable. And if VanVleet and Green can’t find consistency, the burden may fall to rookies and bench players.
Meanwhile, Golden State knows better than to coast.
“We haven’t done anything yet,” Curry told reporters. “It’s just Game 1. But it feels good to remind people who we are.”
And if this was just a reminder, what happens in Game 2 might make history.
News
At Family Dinner They Said I Was Nothing—Then Dad’s Boss Called Me “Ma’am” They said she was wasting her life. That she’d never become anything in the military. But in this powerful family drama, Juliet returns home after five years—only to be dismissed once again at the dinner table. What her family doesn’t know is that she’s now a full Colonel in the U.S. Army and the Pentagon’s key liaison on a billion-dollar contract… that directly involves her father and brother’s company. What follows is a quiet, calculated unraveling of years of dismissal, as Juliet forces her family to finally confront the truth: she never needed their approval to succeed. This family drama explores dignity, personal growth, and what it means to reclaim your worth without shouting. If you’ve ever been underestimated by your own family, this story will resonate deeply.
My name is Juliet Dayne. I’m 30 years old, a colonel in the United States Army. And tomorrow, I’ll be…
A Millionaire Saw Two Girls Crying at His Ex-Wife’s Grave — Who They Were Shook Him
A Millionaire Saw Two Girls Crying at His Ex-Wife’s Grave — Who They Were Shook Him The summer heat clung…
A single chair left the entire studio of The Charlie Kirk Show choked with silence — then Erika Kirk’s radiant entrance teased shockwaves powerful enough to drown a small, already-hurt family one more time.
A single detail on stage changed the room before anyone said a word. The cameras didn’t rush to it. They…
Breαkιпg: The fιпαl cσmmαпd Tyler seпt tσ hιs lσver befσre turпιпg hιmself ιп — whαt seemed burιed beпeαth the rσσmmαte’s shrewd cαlculαtισпs, yet ultιmαtely becαme the decιsιve pιece fσr the mαxιmum seпteпce ιп Utαh.
THE FINAL COMMAND — SHORT, SHARP, AND MEANT TO DISAPPEAR It wαs пσt α speech. It wαs α hαпdful σf…
They Laughed When a Barefoot Boy Claimed He Could Wake the Millionaire’s Daughter — Until the Unthinkable Happened…
The clock on the sterile white wall blinked past noon, its red digits slicing the silence with mechanical indifference. 12:32…
BREAKING: Aari McDonald Goes Viral After SHOCKING Comment About Indiana Fever Following Waiver!
She didn’t slam a door. She didn’t drop a statement. She just posted one heart emoji. No caption. No drama….
End of content
No more pages to load
