Short-handed but still victorious! Curry absent, KD scores 23, Shepherd pours in 30, Warriors win in OT with six players in double figures.

On March 6th, Beijing time, the Houston State Warriors in an NBA regular season matchup. With Warriors' core player Stephen Curry sidelined, the team began the game in excellent form, only to see the Rockets chip away and overtake them in the third quarter. The fourth quarter was a defensive battle with neither team able to gain separation. In overtime, Podziemski delivered a standout performance while Durant shouldered the offensive load for the Rockets. When the final buzzer sounded, the Warriors emerged with a 115-113 overtime victory over the Rockets.

Statistical Breakdown:

Warriors: Green 10 pts, 8 ast; Santos 14 pts, 6 reb, 6 ast; Horford 17 pts, 6 reb, 5 ast; Melton 23 pts; Podziemski 26 pts, 9 reb; Klay 12 pts.

Rockets: Durant 23 pts, 6 reb; Shepherd 30 pts; Smith 3 pts, 11 reb; Sengun 17 pts, 7 reb, 7 ast; Amen 18 pts, 10 reb, 5 ast, 4 stl.

Game Progression:

The first quarter began with Green scoring first, followed by Melton converting a three-point play, giving the Warriors a strong start. The Rockets quickly responded to close the gap. The Warriors then went on a 9-3 run to extend their lead, with Durant hitting a mid-range jumper to stop the bleeding. Golden State scored another 6 consecutive points to build a near double-digit advantage. Shepherd and Okogie combined for 5 points to narrow the deficit, but the Warriors consistently answered at crucial moments. On the final possession of the quarter, Nate hit a near-buzzer-beating layup. At the end of the first, the Warriors led the Rockets 30-20.

At the start of the second quarter, Shepherd immediately hit a two-pointer, sparking a 9-2 run by the Rockets that cut the lead to just 3 points. Horford responded with a three-pointer to push the lead back out, and Podziemski followed with another triple to restore a 9-point advantage. The game then became a back-and-forth affair, with the Warriors maintaining a lead of around 10 points. Late in the quarter, the momentum shifted dramatically as the Rockets unleashed a 10-0 run to tie the game. Spencer made two free throws to stop the slide, and Santos added a layup. At halftime, the Warriors held a slim 51-47 lead.

The third quarter commenced with Etan scoring on a putback, but Podziemski answered emphatically with a three-pointer. The Warriors continued to score, gradually re-establishing a 10-point lead. However, a sudden timeout called by Kerr disrupted his own team's rhythm. In the final three minutes of the quarter, a repeat of the previous period's script unfolded: the Rockets first scored 5 straight to close the gap, then went on an 8-0 run to take the lead. Santos scored on a layup to halt the run, but Capela made both free throws. The quarter ended with the Rockets leading 82-81.

The final quarter was a defensive struggle, with both teams experiencing poor shooting. After a prolonged stalemate early on, both sides fell into a scoring drought midway through the period. Durant finally broke the ice for the Rockets with a two-pointer, forcing a Warriors timeout. After the timeout, Green converted a three-point play, tying the game. In the last three minutes, the teams continued to trade baskets and the lead. Horford hit a crucial three-pointer, Sengun answered with a hook shot, and the score was tied at 101. Melton isolated against Durant but had his shot blocked; after a challenge, a jump ball was called, which Melton won, leading to a Warriors timeout. On their final possession, Horford committed a turnover, and Amen missed an alley-oop attempt, sending the game into overtime tied at 101.

In overtime, Podziemski scored first, but Shepherd answered with a three-pointer. Klay responded with a triple of his own, and Podziemski added another three before throwing down a dunk. At a critical juncture, Amen made one of two free throws, but Durant nailed a clutch three-pointer. Horford countered with a hook shot. Durant drew a foul on a three-point attempt and made two of three free throws, ending his streak of 36 consecutive made free throws. Melton secured the win with a putback in a scramble. Durant made only one of two free throws in the closing seconds. With 0.1 seconds left, Green added insult by in-bounding the ball directly to Durant. The final score was Warriors 115, Rockets 113.

Starting Lineups:

Warriors: Santos, Green, Horford, Melton, Podziemski.

Rockets: Durant, Smith, Sengun, Etan, Amen Thompson.