Rockets Crush Warriors 131-116, Force Game 6 Friday/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ The Houston Rockets dominated the Golden State Warriors 131-116 in Game 5, avoiding elimination in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. Fred VanVleet and Amen Thompson led a balanced scoring attack as Houston kept its postseason hopes alive. Game 6 is set for Friday in San Francisco.
Rockets Crush Warriors, Force Game 6 Friday: Quick Looks
- Fred VanVleet scored 26 points; Amen Thompson added 25
- All five Houston starters scored in double figures
- Rockets shot 55.1% from the field and 43% from three
- Golden State’s bench tallied 76 points, a franchise playoff record
- Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler struggled with poor shooting nights
- Game 6 will be played Friday in San Francisco
- Rockets aim to become 14th team to overcome 3-1 series deficit
Deep Look: Rockets Stun Warriors in Game 5 Blowout, Extend Playoff Series
Facing playoff elimination, the Houston Rockets responded with intensity and precision, dismantling the Golden State Warriors 131-116 in Game 5 of their first-round NBA Playoff series on Wednesday night. With a commanding performance from veterans and rising stars alike, the Rockets lived to fight another day—and now head to San Francisco for a critical Game 6 on Friday.
Fred VanVleet, the 2019 NBA champion, led the charge with 26 points, demonstrating leadership on and off the court. He was closely followed by Amen Thompson, who contributed 25 points in a display of athleticism and poise under pressure. Dillon Brooks added 24 points in a game that showcased Houston’s ability to spread the scoring across the starting lineup—all five starters posted double-digit figures.
“Keep everything light and fresh and confident,” VanVleet said postgame. “We’ve played good basketball—it’s not like we were getting dominated the whole time.”
Game Got Out of Hand Early
Houston came out of the gates with urgency, building a 14-point lead by the end of the first quarter. By the time Stephen Curry knocked down his first three-pointer midway through the second, the Rockets had surged ahead 55-32. VanVleet dropped 19 points in the first half, powering Houston to a 27-point halftime advantage.
The Warriors never recovered.
With 6:30 left in the third quarter and the Rockets leading 93-64, Golden State coach Steve Kerr conceded the game, calling a timeout and emptying his bench. Houston coach Ime Udoka did the same near the end of the third, though he reinserted his starters early in the fourth after Golden State cut the lead to 17.
Scuffle Adds Late Drama
Tempers flared with about four minutes left when Pat Spencer shoved Dillon Brooks, sparking a brief scuffle. Spencer was ejected after headbutting Alperen Sengun during the confrontation. Houston regrouped quickly, responding with a 7-2 run to ice the game and maintain control.
Warriors Bench Shows Up, Stars Struggle
Despite the loss, Golden State’s bench posted an impressive 76 points—its highest playoff total since 1970-71, when starters were officially tracked. Reserve Moses Moody led all Warriors scorers with 25 points.
However, the team’s stars faltered. Stephen Curry shot just 4-for-12 from the field, finishing with 13 points. Jimmy Butler—who missed Game 3 due to injury—was ineffective, scoring only eight points on 2-for-10 shooting in 25 minutes. This came after he totaled 52 points in the two games he played fully earlier in the series.
Statistical Breakdown
- Houston Rockets: 55.1% FG, 13-of-30 from three (43%)
- Golden State Warriors: 41.7% FG, 15-of-44 from three (34%)
- Bench Points (GS): 76 (franchise playoff record)
- Turnovers: Warriors – 14, Rockets – 10
Rockets’ Historic Opportunity
By winning Game 5, the Rockets now trail the Warriors 3-2 in the series and have a chance to become just the 14th team in NBA history to come back from a 3-1 series deficit. Houston has done it twice before, most notably in the 2015 Western Conference semifinals against the L.A. Clippers.
Golden State, meanwhile, has been on the losing end of such a comeback—the 2016 NBA Finals, when LeBron James and the Cavaliers overcame a 3-1 deficit to defeat the Warriors.
What’s Next?
Game 6 will take place Friday night at Chase Center in San Francisco. A win for Houston would force a decisive Game 7, giving the young squad a shot at rewriting postseason expectations.
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