​Warriors take 1–0 lead as Curry powers past Rockets in playoff return

The Golden State Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets 95–85 in Game 1 of their Western Conference first-round playoff series on April 20, 2025, at the Toyota Center in Houston. The Warriors now lead the series 1–0.

Their last appearance for the Rockets was in the 2019–20 season, which ended in 2020 due to the COVID-delayed bubble playoffs.

Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 31 points, shooting 12-of-19 from the field and 5-of-9 from three-point range. He also contributed 6 rebounds and 3 assists. This performance marked his 15th consecutive playoff game scoring at least 20 points since the 2022 NBA Finals.


The Rockets were led by Alperen Şengün, who scored 26 points on 11-of-18 shooting. Despite outrebounding the Warriors 52–36, Houston struggled with shooting, hitting only 39.1% from the field and 20.7% from three-point range. They also committed 17 turnovers.

The game began with Houston taking a 21–18 lead in the first quarter. However, Golden State responded with a 29–13 second quarter, leading 47–34 at halftime. The Rockets narrowed the gap to four points in the fourth quarter, but the Warriors maintained their lead to win the game.

The Warriors' victory was supported by their shooting efficiency, making 47.4% of their shots and 37.5% from beyond the arc. Their defense also limited the Rockets' scoring opportunities.

Game 2 of the series is scheduled for Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at the Toyota Center in Houston, where the Rockets will aim to improve their shooting and reduce turnovers to even the series.