Steph Curry’s off night, early exit too much as Warriors fall to Rockets

SAN FRANCISCO The Warriors had six players in double figures but still fell to the Houston Rockets - on Wednesday evening at Chase Center as Steph Curry suffered a poor shooting night and left the floor limping late in the fourth quarter Curry scored points on -of- shooting committed six turnovers and headed to the locker room in the final minute of the fourth quarter after hobbling for several minutes Curry missed three games earlier this year with a hamstring injury This contest marks just the fifth time this season that Curry who scored points over his last three games entering play has failed to total at least points Houston guard Reed Sheppard led the Rockets by scoring a career-high points on a career-high shots from the field Houston forward Kevin Durant missed a second straight match due to personal reasons Entering play the Rockets season-high for offensive rebounds was but Houston pulled down offensive rebounds by the end of the third quarter The Warriors led - with remaining in the second quarter after Amen Thompson dunked down an alley-oop pass from Clint Capela but Golden State closed the first half with an emphatic - run and went into the break with a - lead Going into the break Golden State had seven players Butler Stephen Curry Draymond Green Will Richard Brandin Podziemski Quinten Post who scored at least seven points Richard a rookie continued to impress scoring points and pulling down six rebounds three offensive Curry and Richard connected for a highlight-reel play in the early minutes of the third quarter Curry standing at the top of the key made a no-look pass to Richard at the free throw line and with the shot clock expiring Richard connected on a turnaround jumper The Rockets had their response in the third quarter pulling down offensive rebounds and outscoring the Warriors - to get back in the ballgame Post s -foot jumper with seconds remaining in the third gave the Warriors a - lead going in the fourth quarter Related Articles Kuminga Melton scrimmage with Santa Cruz as they rehab knee injuries Warriors will see specific new faces in playoff rematch against Rockets Warriors instant analysis Second-quarter blitz pushes Golden State past Utah Lauri Markkanen once coveted by Warriors is now one of NBA s best scorers Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups pleads not guilty in rigged poker games development Houston took its first lead of the evening on its first possession of the fourth quarter as Aaron Holiday knocked down a -pointer from the right wing fully erasing a Golden State lead that had ballooned to points The Rockets lead grew as large as eight points but Richard s cutting layup with left in the fourth tied the championship at apiece The Rockets took a - lead after Thompson knocked down a pair of free throws but Brandin Podziemski stepped to the free throw line with remaining with an opportunity to tie the championship Podziemski missed three consecutive free throws even after being gifted an extra opportunity when the Rockets committed a lane violation Following those misses the Rockets would proceed to put the championship on ice and send fans to the exits early Moses Moody knocked down a -pointer with seconds remaining to cut the Rockets lead to - but the Warriors could not complete the comeback