Home BASKETBALL NBA NBA Recap: Rockets Edge Warriors, Lakers Struggle, and Thunder Roll

NBA Recap: Rockets Edge Warriors, Lakers Struggle, and Thunder Roll

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Curry returns
Curry returns

NBA roundup: Western Conference standings shake-up, Rockets beat Warriors, Mavericks upset Lakers, and Thunder lead the West. Lakers struggle, Rockets win streak, and Thunder push for top seed.


Stephen Curry's return, Cooper Flagg's 45-point game, and the Thunder's winning streak...


The Houston Rockets pulled off a thrilling 117-116 win over the Golden State Warriors, spoiling Stephen Curry's return from a 27-game injury absence. Curry, who came off the bench, scored 29 points in just 26 minutes, hitting 11 of his 21 shots.


Kevin Durant led the Rockets with 31 points, while Alperen Sengun's go-ahead layup with 11.1 seconds left sealed the win. The Warriors had a late rally, with Curry hitting a three-pointer to cut the deficit to one with 57.8 seconds left, but Sengun's basket proved decisive.


Curry shot 11-of-21 from the field, including 5-of-10 from three. The Warriors cut their deficit to one with a Curry three-pointer with 57.8 seconds left. Gary Payton II then drove and was awarded a basket on a goaltend by Amen Thompson to put the Warriors ahead 116-115.


Alperen Sengun scored with a layup, and Stephen Curry's final three-pointer missed, securing a 117-116 win for the Houston Rockets over the Golden State Warriors. Sengun's basket with 11 seconds left proved decisive, as Curry's impressive return wasn't enough to lead the Warriors to victory. Curry scored 29 points in 26 minutes, hitting 11 of 21 shots, including five three-pointers.


“We had the game in control, then they put number 30 in the game,” Rockets star Kevin Durant, who won two titles with the Warriors, said of Curry. “And he got back into it so easily. He makes shots so quicky and he looked incredible after a couple of months off.


“It was a tough one,” added Durant, who led all scorers with 31 points. “But it's late in the season and both teams are looking to get ready for the play-offs. So it was a good test for us.”




The Rockets had extended their halftime lead to 15 points with five minutes left in the third period. But Curry, playing on a minutes restriction, led an 11-0 Warriors run that kept them in the game. 


Stephen Curry's return gave the Warriors a glimpse of their potential as they prepare for the play-in tournament. Curry, who initially thought he'd miss only a week with patella-femoral pain syndrome in his right knee, scored 29 points in 26 minutes.


“You're feeling it,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “We're back in the mix, we're back in the fight with Steph.”


The Los Angeles Lakers faced a tough challenge without Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves, losing 134-128 to the Dallas Mavericks. Cooper Flagg led the Mavericks with a sensational 45-point performance, helping snap their 14-game home losing streak.


LeBron James had a solid game with 30 points and 15 assists, but it wasn't enough to secure the win. The Lakers' struggles without Doncic and Reaves raise concerns about their playoff prospects, especially with Denver and Houston closing in.


Cooper Flagg delivered an incredible 45 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block, extending his impressive streak after scoring 51 points against Orlando on Friday. This made him the first rookie since Allen Iverson in 1996-97 to score 40+ points in back-to-back games.


The Dallas Mavericks dominated the Los Angeles Lakers, who were already struggling without Luka Doncic (hamstring strain) and Austin Reaves (oblique muscle injury). Flagg's performance was a major factor in Dallas' 134-128 win, ending their 14-game home losing streak.




LeBron James led the Lakers with 30 points, 9 rebounds, and 15 assists, while Jaxson Hayes added 23 points off the bench. Rui Hachimura scored 21, and Luke Kennard posted a triple-double with 15 points, 16 rebounds, and 11 assists. Despite their efforts, the Lakers couldn't recover from a slow start, falling 134-128 to Dallas. 


“We didn't start the game the right way and just played catch-up the rest of the game,” Lakers coach JJ Redick said, saying the Lakers' inability to adjust led to “just a poor defensive night.”


The Lakers' loss puts them tied with Denver at 50-28 for third place in the West. The Rockets, now on a six-game winning streak, are just a game back in fifth. 


Oklahoma City Thunder won their fourth straight game, beating Utah 146-111. Chet Holmgren scored 21 points and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander added 20, with both sitting out the fourth quarter. 


The Oklahoma City Thunder extended their winning streak to five games, pushing their lead over San Antonio to three games atop the Western Conference. They're looking strong for the top seed.




Meanwhile, the Boston Celtics beat Toronto 115-101, with Jaylen Brown scoring 26 points and Jayson Tatum adding 23. Tatum also had 13 rebounds, 7 assists, and 3 steals. The win marks Boston's third straight, solidifying their hold on second place in the Eastern Conference. 



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