In a significant lineup change, Warriors forward Draymond Green made his return to the starting five, while Chris Paul, for the first time in his NBA career, came off the bench. Green, who hadn’t seen game action since last season, showed signs of rustiness, slightly disrupting the rhythm of the starting lineup that had been functioning well with CP3 in his place. The Warriors are focused on successfully reintegrating Green into the starting lineup.

Despite the Warriors’ somewhat uneven start, the Rockets managed to establish only a modest six-point lead. Chris Paul’s presence off the bench, alongside a young rotation for the Rockets, proved effective for the Warriors. Golden State’s second unit, featuring Paul, Jonathan Kuminga, Moses Moody, Dario Šarić, and Gary Payton II, orchestrated a 27-8 run between the end of the first quarter and the start of the second, granting the Warriors a 16-point lead, their largest of the game.

Of note was Payton’s offensive performance, as he contributed significantly, especially in the first half. He finished the game shooting an impressive 6-for-8 from the field, including 3-for-4 from beyond the arc. Payton’s efficient scoring, coupled with his impactful defense, led to an impressive game-best +13 plus/minus.

Despite the lead created by the bench players, the Warriors’ starters struggled to maintain it and began conceding ground to the Rockets. Houston’s balanced effort saw four of their five starters reaching double-digit scoring figures, with only point guard Fred Van Vleet falling short. Had Van Vleet found his three-point rhythm, the game could have had a different outcome.

Throughout the third quarter, the Rockets steadily chipped away at the Warriors’ lead, ultimately tying the score early in the fourth quarter and even briefly taking the lead halfway through the final quarter. However, in an otherwise relatively uneventful game, Stephen Curry took control. He drained four consecutive three-pointers in four straight possessions, putting the game out of reach. Curry concluded the evening with 22 points (shooting 6-for-15 from the field), 5 rebounds, and 6 assists.

Klay Thompson quietly had his second consecutive efficient performance, scoring 19 points while taking just 12 field goal attempts (5-for-10 from three).

The Warriors’ early-season road trip continues with a game tomorrow night in New Orleans against the Pelicans at 5:00 PM Pacific