Green scores 38 as Rockets even series with intense 109-94 win over Warriors

HOUSTON – On Wednesday, the Houston Rockets hosted the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of the opening round of the NBA Playoffs.

After dropping Game 1, the Rockets were desperate to pick up a home win before the series moved to the Bay Area. They did just that, cruising to a 109-94 victory.

Jalen Green led the Rockets in scoring, finishing with 38 points. This comes after an underwhelming Game 1 performance, where the Rockets’ regular season scoring leader had just seven points.

Stephen Curry was the Warriors top performer on offense, finishing with 20 points.

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Near the end of the first quarter, Houston’s Amen Thompson was pushed underneath a leaping Jimmy Butler, causing him to fall awkwardly and land on his tailbone.

Butler limped around the court during Houston’s next possession, but he would exit the game and head to the locker room. Several minutes later, he was officially ruled out for the game with a pelvis contusion.

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The game was extremely physical and emotional, with both teams picking up aggressive fouls throughout the contest.

Warriors’ star forward Draymond Green was at the center if several controversial plays and interactions down the stretch. Rockets fans broke out into “F--- you, Draymond,” chants on several occasions, with at least three such chants breaking out in the Toyota Center in the fourth quarter alone.

The victory allowed the Rockets to tie the series, 1-1, as the Rockets head to San Francisco for the next two games. Tonight’s win guarantees that there will be at least one more game in Houston before this series is all said and done.

The teams will meet again for Game 3 on Saturday, April 26, at the Chase Center in San Francisco. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.