Headline: Rockets Rally with Fierce Resolve: Houston Survives Game 5 to Extend Series against Warriors to Game 6

The announcers on TNT appeared to be far more emotionally engaged regarding the status of the Golden State starters late in Game 5 than Warriors coach Steve Kerr did.

Kerr opted to substitute his starting lineup out with 5:50 remaining in the third quarter. While it wasn’t an outright surrender, it was a realistic acknowledgment of the situation at Houston’s Toyota Center. Trailing by 27 points at halftime, the Warriors further fell behind by 29, prompting Kerr to forgo any pretense of a comeback. He cleared the bench, using his reserves almost exclusively for the remainder of the game aside from a brief appearance by Buddy Hield in the fourth quarter.

In total, 13 players from Golden State saw time on the court in the second half. Remarkably, the backups not only matched the starters’ performance but also helped shift the momentum, possibly affecting the outcome of Houston’s 131-116 victory.

With the Rockets avoiding elimination yet still trailing 3-2, here are five takeaways as the best-of-seven series moves back to Chase Center in San Francisco for Game 6 on Friday (9 ET, ESPN).

Let’s clarify: the game’s outcome was largely shaped by Houston’s explosive opening. Golden State’s late-game resilience would not have been possible without Houston’s dominant first half.

The Rockets needed to assert themselves early to overcome the disappointment of their narrow one-point loss in Game 4 (where they led 57-50 at halftime but lost 109-106). Their commanding performance continued into the third quarter, making it seem as though one victory could effectively count as two.

“At halftime, their effective field goal [percentage] was 95%,” said Kerr. “I’ve never witnessed anything like that before. You simply can’t win a game like that.”

At the break, Houston’s shooting statistics mirrored what Golden State might have achieved in their prime: an overall shooting percentage of 69.4% (25-of-36), 60% from beyond the arc (9-of-15), and 85% from the foul line (17-of-20).

A flurry of fouls by the Warriors within the first five minutes led to a 15-0 run by the Rockets, which quickly inflated to 26-5. Houston’s zone defense, utilized by coach Ime Udoka, effectively contained Golden State, with stars Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler failing to score until four minutes into the second quarter.

This overwhelming start for the Rockets indicated that several players were having a strong night, particularly guards Jalen Green and Fred VanVleet. Both had experienced ups and downs throughout the series.

Green, who garnered significant criticism and served as a barometer for the team, shone with 38 points in Game 2 but struggled with only seven, nine, and eight points in the subsequent losses, shooting 10-of-34 in those matches.

VanVleet, possessing playoff experience, started the series slowly, registering just 11.3 points with a subpar 6-for-29 from three in Games 1-3. However, he bounced back with 25 points on Sunday and led all scorers in the first half of Wednesday’s game with 19 points.

VanVleet ultimately scored 26 points while Green, despite being aggressive, finished with just 11 — a potential shift in approach as the series continues.

In facing elimination, the Rockets displayed intensity in every possession and ramped up their defensive efforts to propel the series back to the Bay Area.

Throughout the final quarter, viewers caught glimpses of the Warriors’ bench, filled with smiling and laughing players. To an outsider tuning in late, it might have seemed as though Golden State was the team leading despite the significant deficit.

However, despite their joy, the Warriors were indeed struggling. The reserves Kerr brought in matched up against Udoka’s bench, and Golden State clearly won that matchup.

Starting the fourth quarter at 107-80, the Warriors managed to initiate a 19-5 run in the first 6:22, narrowing the deficit to 13 and initially making it feel like they could stage a comeback. Would Kerr reinstate his starters? No. But his moves did compel Udoka to return his starters, a minor victory for fatigue management that may yield advantages on Friday.

Kerr expressed satisfaction with his bench’s spirited play, which contributed 76 points.

“They forced Houston to reintroduce their starters,” he noted. “They established a tone that we’ll need for Game 6. While we didn’t win, I thought our fight in the fourth quarter was vital. That finish carries significance.”

It’s important to note, though, that while Golden State attempted to rattle the Rockets, they never cut the lead to fewer than 13 points. Replacing the starters after they had cooled off was not an option for Kerr.

“You can’t go back to them,” he insisted. “That’s not how it should be done.”

Curry has been practicing and playing with his right thumb taped, although he hasn’t spoken much about the injury. However, Kerr addressed post-game how Houston defenders appeared to target Curry’s hand, trying to establish contact on his shooting motion.

This type of play is technically allowed, as it’s not considered a foul after the ball is released. Kerr mentioned that coaches in the league uniformly seek a re-evaluation of such contact.

During Kerr’s postgame remarks, NBA TV highlighted numerous clips of Curry shooting on Wednesday—with none showing any contact on his hand.

When asked about a claim from a Golden State broadcaster alleging that Dillon Brooks specifically struck Curry’s hand, Udoka simply replied, “I wouldn’t.”

This series has displayed significant physicality, with increased bumping and holding as it has progressed. In this game, some lesser-utilized Warriors emerged as the evening’s most aggressive players.

A skirmish erupted deep in the fourth when Golden State’s Pat Spencer shoved Rockets enforcer Dillon Brooks. After Spencer walked away, he was bumped by Houston center Alperen Sengun.

Spencer confronted Sengun face-to-face before delivering a head-butt to the taller player. Meanwhile, Trayce Jackson-Davis of the Warriors rushed in to shove Sengun, prompting Kerr, Udoka, and other coaches to intervene on the court.

As the dust settled from the initial foul and ensuing technical fouls and free throws, Houston had managed to extend its lead to 117-101. The dynamic of the series had shifted, setting the stage nicely for Game 6.

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Steve Aschburner has been covering the NBA since 1980. You can reach him via email here, view his archive here, and follow him on X.

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