The Houston Rockets came out firing against the Golden State Warriors. A 15-0 run in the first quarter, keyed at the free throw line, fueled them to a 40-24 lead after one. They never looked back on the way to a 15-point victory, keeping their season alive by forcing Game 6 at Chase Center on Friday.
Amen Thompson ($6,900, 48 FPTS) and his defensive energy led the way. His defense on Steph Curry ($9,500, 27.25 FPTS) was crucial, racking up five steals and 23 points. Alperen Sengun ($9,000, 42 FPTS) contributed in an all-around fashion with his 15/8/9 stat line. Fred VanVleet ($5,700, 30.75 FPTS) also made himself felt with 26 points.
For the Warriors, in addition to Steph Curry’s struggles, Jimmy Butler ($8,300, 21.25 FPTS) couldn’t get things going. He scored only eight points on 2-of-10 shooting. Brandin Podziemski ($6,000, 16.5 FPTS) had nothing going with eight points. The Warriors opted to pull their starters midway through the third quarter, saving their energy for Game 6.
The Rockets will once again look to fight off elimination this Friday at Chase Center. The Warriors open at -4.5 favorites and -192 on the moneyline, with a total of 204.5.
