Programming note: Warriors-Suns coverage starts Sunday at 4:30 p.m. with Warriors Pregame Live on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area.
Stephen Curry scored 34 points and Andrew Bogut corralled 18 rebounds as the Warriors stayed perfect (5-0) by scratching and clawing their way to a 98-87 victory over the Rockets on Saturday at Toyota Center in Houston.
The Rockets, playing without All-Star center Dwight Howard, hung with the Warriors for most of the game but couldn't stop Curry from taking over the game down the stretch. It was the first loss of the season for Houston (6-1).
Four other Warriors scored in double figures, with Andre Iguodala putting in 15 points, Draymond Green 14 and Klay Thompson 11.
Curry also finished with 10 rebounds, five assists and four steals. He scored 10 points over the final 6:16.
After a sluggish and sloppy start, the Warriors recovered and were superb in the second half, particularly on defense, limiting Houston to 31 points after intermission.
STANDOUT PERFORMER:
Curry delivered the offense, and Bogut pretty much took care of everything else.
After apparently needing the first half to adjust to the absence of Howard, Bogut was massive in the second half. In addition to his work on the glass, he had 8 points and four blocked shots.
TURNING POINT:
There were many, the final coming with midway through the fourth quarter, when the Warriors went on a 6-0 run to snap an 82-82 tie and take a 88-82 lead with 4:56 left.
Trailing for most of the first two quarters and down 56-48 at the half, the Warriors reeled off a 22-4 run to open the second half, taking a 70-60 lead with 5:07 left in the third quarter. They never lost the lead after that.
Curry and Thompson combined for 16 of the 22 points during the blitz. Iguodala put it 4 and Bogut added the other 2. Bogut also grabbed eight rebounds during the comeback third quarter.
The Warriors held the Rockets to 13 points in the third quarter, a franchise record for a single quarter against Houston. The Rockets shot 18.5 percent in the quarter.
And to think, it was reasonable to believe the turning point of the night – in favor fo the Warriors – would have been the pregame announcement of Howard's absence.
INJURY UPDATE:
Warriors F David Lee (strained left hamstring) is out indefinitely.
Rockets C Howard (flu-like symptoms) was scratched shortly before the game. F Terrence Jones (leg contusion) and G Patrick Beverley (strained hamstring) did not play.
WHAT'S NEXT:
The Warriors leave Houston and face the Suns in Phoenix on Sunday. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. PST.
