The Golden State Warriors opened their NBA playoff series against the Houston Rockets with a hard-fought 95-85 win on Sunday night, taking a 1-0 lead on the road against one of the NBA’s top defenses. Despite the victory, it was clear the Warriors have areas that need improvement — and Draymond Green didn’t shy away from addressing them.
Golden State closed the game with a dominant final 6:33, holding the Rockets to just four field goals and forcing four turnovers to secure the win at the Toyota Center. As the veteran forward explained postgame, this wasn’t an easy one — and it’s likely a sign of how competitive this series will be.
“It took everything,” Green said on Warriors Postgame Live. “We know that’s a great ball club. They’re the No. 2 seed for a reason. They’re a great defensive team. They never back down. We got up 23 points, and they continued to fight. That’s what we expect. It just takes a consistent effort for 48 minutes. And we can be a lot better.”
Green emphasized that the Warriors are only going to improve from here, especially if they continue to lean on their NBA stars — Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler — while also addressing weak spots, particularly on the boards.
Jimmy Butler III #10 and Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors watch from the bench during the second half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at PHX Arena on April 08, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona.
Rebounding woes exposed despite defensive brilliance
One of Golden State’s most glaring issues in Game 1 was rebounding. The Rockets outrebounded the Warriors 52-36, dominating second-chance points 22-12 and attempting 11 more shots overall. While those advantages didn’t lead to a win, they clearly highlight a structural issue that Steve Kerr’s team needs to address.
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“This was a triumph of execution over athleticism, discipline over energy,” Kerr said postgame. “They’re the best team in the league in the possession game. They got 11 more shots than we did tonight as a result of all those offensive boards. Now, we’re going to turn them over, too. Our defense is excellent. We just held a hell of a team to 85 points on their home floor, so our defense is big time and we’re going to count on that.”
Houston’s offense struggled under Golden State’s pressure. Jalen Green was held to just seven points on 3-of-15 shooting, and Fred VanVleet wasn’t much better at 4-of-19, including 2-of-13 from deep. Only center Alperen Şengün found rhythm, finishing with 26 points on 11-of-18 from the field.
Still, the Warriors’ frontcourt rotation raises questions. Kevon Looney, though a franchise stalwart, lacked the mobility to dominate on the glass, and backup big Quentin Post couldn’t log enough minutes. Rookie Trayce Jackson-Davis remains an intriguing option off the bench if Kerr decides to shake up the rotation.
What Kerr and Green say the Warriors must fix
Ball security and smart offensive execution were also key talking points. The Warriors were clearly in control when they protected the ball — but when they didn’t, the Rockets capitalized in transition.
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“We’ve got to recognize that we don’t need to take chances in this series,” Kerr said. “We need to be clean with our execution and in transition. We don’t need to dribble through traffic. We don’t need to throw lob passes trying to get dunks. We’ve got to be rock solid. And if we’re smart and tough, we’ll be in good shape.”
Green echoed the sentiment, noting that while the defensive game plan worked, securing rebounds is critical moving forward. “We just flew around,” Green added. “We didn’t give up any easy looks. We followed our defensive game plan. Just make them take tough shots. We’d be a lot better off if we could get some rebounds.” Game 2 promises another intense battle — and for the Warriors, improvement on the glass could be the key to taking a commanding series lead.
