OAKLAND – With Stephen Curry ruled out with an injury, the Warriors knew they would need a group effort to win Game 2 of their first-round series against Houston.
They delivered precisely that, coming away with a 115-106 victory Monday night at roaring, rollicking Oracle Arena to take a 2-0 lead in the series.
Four Warriors scored in double figures, led by guard Klay Thompson’s 34 points. Andre Iguodala totaled 18 points, Draymond Green tossed in 12 and Andrew Bogut added 10. Shaun Livingston, who started in place of Curry, put in 16 points.
The Warriors didn’t declare Curry out until he attempted his pregame warmup. After less than eight minutes of activity, he left the floor and shortly thereafter it was decided he would sit out.
So the Warriors, despite having early trouble defending the 3-point line, responded with just enough of everything to compensate for the loss of their star.
James Harden scored 28 points to lead the Rockets. Center Dwight Howard totaled 12 points and 10 rebounds before fouling out in the fourth quarter.
STANDOUT PERFORMER:
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Livingston, Thompson and Iguodala all pitched in to offset the offense lost with Curry’s absence. Green delivered a typical combo platter and Bogut excelled, as he often does, in the shadows.
Livingston’s line: 16 points (7-of-9 shooting), six assists and two steals. He played 29 minutes and finished at plus-19 for the game.
Thompson’s line: 34 points (8-of-20, 3-of-7 beyond the arc) and five assists. He was 15-of-16 from the line, playing 37 minutes and finishing plus-16.
Green’s line: 11 points (4-of-12), 13 rebounds, eight assists and a blocked shot. He was plus-9.
Bogut’s line: 10 points (5-of-6), seven rebounds, three blocks and two assists. He was plus-23.
Iguodala made 4-of-5 3-pointers in the first half, giving the Warriors a much-needed offensive boost.
TURNING POINT:
Though the Warriors led by as much as 12, this one was tight most of the night before they closed it out late.
After Jason Terry made a pair of free throws to pull Houston within 3 (88-85) with 9:51 remaining, the Warriors went on 11-1 run to go up 99-86 with 6:49 left.
Thompson during that stretch dropped in five free throws, including one after Rockets coach J.B. Bickerstaff was whistled for a technical foul.
Houston got no closer than seven (with 18.8 seconds left) over the final six minutes.
INJURY UPDATE:
Warriors: G Stephen Curry (R ankle tweak) was listed as questionable and declared out one hour before tipoff. F Kevon Looney (R hip soreness) was listed as out. Both were placed on the single-game inactive list.
Rockets: F Sam Dekker (back tightness) was listed as out. He and G Andrew Goudelock (healthy) were placed on the single-game inactive list.
WHAT’S NEXT:
Game 3 is scheduled for Thursday night at Toyota Center in Houston, tipoff scheduled for 6:40 p.m. PDT.
