Two days after playing their worst 30 minutes of the season, the Warriors on Friday went the full 48, getting clobbered in every conceivable way in a 105-83 loss to the Rockets at Toyota Center in Houston.
The Warriors' shooting was bad, their defense worse, their rebounding woefully pathetic. So bad was this performance that one has to wonder if something has gone wrong within their generally solid framework.
There is a long list of ghastly numbers, beginning with the 22 turnovers committed by the Warriors, with eight attributed to Stephen Curry. Klay Thompson didn't score until the third quarter and shot 2-of-10. Harrison Barnes missed 10 of his 16 shots. The Warriors made only two of their 16 3-point attempts.
The biggest crime of all, however, was the ease with which Rockets big men Dwight Howard and Terrence Jones routed Warriors big men Andrew Bogut and David Lee.
Howard (22 points, 18 rebounds) and Jones (16 and 10) both achieved double-doubles by the midway point of the third quarter. Bogut finished with 4 points, five rebounds and five fouls. Lee wound up with 11 points, three rebounds and a courtside seat for most of the second half.
No, this was a clear case of a Warriors team playing in a fog. Coach Mark Jackson turned to his bench early – and the oft-maligned reserves actually cut into the Houston lead.
Curry was the Warriors' statistical leader, with 22 points, five assists and three steals. He made all 11 of his free-throw attempts.
Houston guard James Harden led all scorers with 34 points.
STANDOUT PERFORMANCES
Curry recovered from a horrid start, missing six of his first seven shots, to finish with 5-of-14 shooting. Even with the many turnovers, he was the best the Warriors offered.
Draymond Green and Marreese Speights came off the bench and didn't embarrass themselves, combining for 10 points and 15 rebounds.
TURNING POINT
It came early in this one, as the Warriors trailed by five (12-7) after two David Lee free throws with 7:45 left in the first quarter. The Rockets responded with a 19-5 run to finish the quarter with a 19-point lead that only expanded until the final garbage-time minutes.
INJURY UPDATE
Backup point guard Toney Douglas (stress reaction, left tibia) is on the trip but is listed as day to day. Forward Andre Iguodala (strained left hamstring) also is on the trip but remains out.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Warriors visit the Grizzlies Saturday night in Memphis, where they have not won since April 4, 2008. The Warriors have lost their last 11 games, regardless of location, to the Grizzlies.
