Key Takeaways:
- Brandon Podziemski scored 26 points as Golden State edged Houston 115-113 in overtime
- Stephen Curry missed his 12th straight game with a knee injury and is expected to be re-evaluated around Tuesday
- Reed Sheppard led Houston with 30 points, including six 3-pointers
Overtime Drama Seals Warriors’ Triumph
The Golden State Warriors, missing star guard Stephen Curry for a 12th consecutive fixture, managed to clinch a 115-113 victory over the Houston Rockets in a tense overtime encounter on Thursday night in Houston.
With just under 30 seconds remaining in overtime and holding a slender three-point lead, the Warriors saw Kevin Durant fouled on a three-point attempt. Durant converted the first two of his free throws, but missed the third, allowing Golden State to secure the rebound. De’Anthony Melton capitalised with a tip-in layup with 5.3 seconds left, extending the advantage to 115-112.
WHAT.
A.
WIN. pic.twitter.com/HxgjPMTRAx— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) March 6, 2026
Durant then split a further pair of free throws, but Golden State retained the lead as a strategic foul by the Rockets prevented any further scoring in the dying moments.
Player Performances: Key Contributors
Brandon Podziemski led the depleted Warriors with a 26-point display, ably supported by De’Anthony Melton’s 23 points. Al Horford contributed 17 points to the Warriors’ tally. The absence of Curry, sidelined due to a knee injury, continues to test Golden State’s depth, with the team stating that he is due for re-evaluation around Tuesday.
For Houston, Reed Sheppard was explosive with 30 points, connecting on six shots from beyond the arc, while Durant added 23.
| Warriors | Points |
|---|---|
| Brandon Podziemski | 26 |
| De’Anthony Melton | 23 |
| Al Horford | 17 |
| Rockets | Points |
|---|---|
| Reed Sheppard | 30 |
| Kevin Durant | 23 |
Critical Moments and Game Progression
The match remained tightly contested late into overtime, with the teams tied under three minutes to play. Podziemski’s three-pointer and a subsequent driving layup pushed Golden State ahead 111-106. Amen Thompson responded by converting the first of two free throws and retrieving his own miss on the second, enabling Durant to hit a three-pointer and narrow the deficit to a single point. Horford answered for the Warriors, delivering a basket to put his side up 113-110.
Houston’s Alperen Sengun handed the Rockets a late lead with a short basket just a minute from the end of regulation, but Al Horford responded with a three-pointer to send Golden State back in front 101-99. Sengun kept Houston’s hopes alive with another tying field goal. A crucial late foul on Melton was subsequently challenged and overturned following a review. Golden State won the ensuing jump ball and called a timeout, but a turnover by Gui Santos with 0.3 seconds left allowed Thompson a last opportunity, though he could not convert under the basket, sending the contest to overtime.
Upcoming Fixtures
- Golden State will visit Oklahoma City on Saturday night
- Houston are set to host Portland on Friday night
