1. Game Breakdown: Warriors’ 4th-Quarter Blitz
- Curry’s Clutch Gene: Scored or assisted on 35 of GSW’s 57 4th-quarter points.
- Payton’s Perfect Night: 16 PTS (7/9 FG), including 5/5 in the 4th—sealing dunk off Curry’s steal had Chase Center erupting.
- Rockets Collapse: Sengun’s 1/6 FTs, Dillon Brooks fouled out, team shot 39.3% from deep.
Play of the Game:
Q4 8:12: Curry nails a 30-footer, then strips VanVleet for Payton’s transition slam—12-0 run that broke Houston.
2. Star Performances: Hero vs. Zero
| Player | Stats | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Steph Curry | 36 PTS, 7 REB, 9 AST | Passed Parker (4,045 PTS) in playoff scoring. |
| F. VanVleet | 17 PTS (13 in Q1) | Contained by Warriors’ zone D. |
| A. Sengun | 15 PTS, 11 REB | 1/6 FTs in crunch time. |
| Jalen Green | 9 PTS (4/11 FG) | 0/4 from 3—no impact. |
Analyst Take:
“Houston needs Jalen Green to be a 20-PPG scorer. Tonight, he was a non-factor.” — Mark Jackson
3. X-Factors: Defense vs. Self-Destruction
✅ Warriors’ Adjustments:
- Zone Defense: Held Rockets to 12 paint points in Q4.
- Draymond’s Leadership: 3 BLK, locked down Sengun (-15 +/-).
❌ Rockets’ Mistakes:
- 3PT & FT Woes: 39.3% 3PT (GSW: 42.9%), 14/24 FTs (58.3%).
- Bench Outscored 34-18: No spark outside starters.
Key Stats:
- 4th Quarter: GSW 35-22 HOU
- Fast Break: GSW 21-8 HOU
- Turnovers: HOU 15 (led to 22 GSW points)
4. Series Outlook: G4 Do-or-Die for Houston
- Warriors’ Edge: Jimmy Butler (calf) expected back for G4.
- Rockets’ Last Stand: No team has won series after 1-3 since 2016.
- Adjustments Needed:
- Get Jalen Green going—more off-ball screens.
- Fix FTs (65.1% series average).
Fan Reaction:
“Start Amen Thompson over Green! At least he’ll hound Curry on D.” — 72% upvoted on r/Rockets
Engagement Boosters
✅ Hot Takes: “Rockets’ FT shooting would make Shaq blush.”
✅ Debate Prompt: “Can Jalen Green save Houston’s season?”
✅ Visuals: Curry’s step-back 3 vs. Payton’s dunk (side-by-side clips).
Poll:
“Who wins G4?”
- Warriors sweep at home (58%)
- Rockets force Game 5 (42%)
Drop your predictions below! 👇 #NBAPlayoffs
