The Golden State Warriors pulled off a dramatic 115-113 overtime victory against the Houston Rockets on Thursday night in Houston, overcoming injuries and late pressure to secure a crucial road win.
Guard Brandin Podziemski led the Warriors with 26 points and nine rebounds, while De’Anthony Melton added 23 points in a strong all-around performance. Veteran big man Al Horford contributed 17 points, helping Golden State overcome the absence of star guard Stephen Curry, who missed his 12th straight game with a knee injury.
The game remained tightly contested throughout regulation and eventually required overtime. With less than three minutes left in the extra period, Podziemski sparked the Warriors’ offence by drilling a three-pointer and following it with a driving layup, giving Golden State a 111-106 lead.
Houston responded quickly. Forward Amen Thompson hit a free throw and helped create another opportunity, and Kevin Durant drained a clutch three-pointer to cut the deficit to just one point. Horford answered with a basket to make it 113-110 before the Rockets kept the pressure on late in the overtime period.
The decisive moment came in the final seconds. Durant was fouled on a three-point attempt with about 30 seconds left and made two of his three free throws. After Golden State secured the rebound on the missed attempt, Melton scored a tip-in layup with 5.3 seconds remaining to extend the Warriors’ lead to three. Houston managed only one more free throw afterwards, allowing the visitors to escape with the win.
For Houston, rookie guard Reed Sheppard delivered an impressive performance with a game-high 30 points, including six three-pointers. Durant added 23 points for the Rockets, who entered the game with a strong home record but fell short in the closing moments.
The contest also featured several momentum swings in regulation. Alperen Sengun briefly put Houston ahead late in the fourth quarter with a short basket, but Horford’s three-pointer quickly restored the Warriors’ lead before both teams traded baskets to force overtime.
With the win, Golden State improved to 32-30 on the season and will travel to face the Oklahoma City Thunder next. Houston, now 38-23, returns home to host the Portland Trail Blazers in its next game.
