Curry shines as Warriors deny Rockets’ fourth quarter comeback in 95-85 win

HOUSTON – On Easter Sunday, the Houston Rockets faced off against the Golden State Warriors in Game 1 of the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

The Warriors led by as many as 23, but Houston was able to make things interesting with a scoring run in the fourth quarter. Despite the Rockets’ heroics, Golden State comfortably held on for a 95-85 win.

Alperen Sengun was the leading scorer for the Rockets, tallying 26 points. He was far and away Houston’s main offensive engine tonight, as Jabari Smith Jr. and Dillon Brooks tied for the second-most points on the team with just 11 each.

After the loss, Rockets head coach Ime Udoka complimented Sengun’s performance in his playoff debut, while also acknowledging that his teammates need to help him out.

“[Sengun] had a great night,” Udoka said. [We] need some other guys to, kind of, join the party there, and I think guys will."

Stephen Curry led the Warriors in scoring, finishing with 31, while Jimmy Butler had 25.

• Rockets hold Curry to just 3 points, take down Warriors in gritty, physical 106-96 win

Game 2 against Golden State will be played at Toyota Center Wednesday.

Game recap

Houston made big plays early on, jumping out to a 13-5 lead. Sengun made the Toyota Center shake with a thunderous slam over Golden State’s Draymond Green.

The Warriors soon found their footing and gained the lead. The Rockets scored to cut Golden State’s lead to 38-34, but the Warriors ended the first half on a 9-0 scoring run to take a 47-34 lead into the break.

An evenly-matched third quarter kept the Warriors in front by double digits, but the Rockets ended the stanza with a 15-3 scoring run led by Sengun and Smith. The Warriors led 69-60 entering the fourth.

Houston kept its foot on the gas in the early stages of the final quarter, chipping away at the Warriors’ lead. However, the Warriors made enough plays down the stretch to avoid collapse.