Warriors vs Rockets Final Score & Highlights, NBA 24-25: Curry’s Masterclass Powers Warriors Past Rockets in Game 3

Warriors vs Rockets Final Score and Highlights, NBA 24-25: Without co-star Jimmy Butler III, the Golden State Warriors leaned heavily on their leader, who responded with a dazzling 36-point, nine-assist, and seven-rebound performance to lift the Warriors to a gritty 104-93 victory over the Houston Rockets at Chase Center on Saturday night. With the win, the Warriors took a crucial 2-1 series lead in the best-of-seven matchup.

The game was a rollercoaster, featuring 18 lead changes and a Rockets surge that once saw the Warriors trailing by 13. But Curry's steady hand — particularly during a second-quarter resurgence — helped the Dubs stay within striking distance before closing strong.

Curry Ignites Second-Quarter Rally

The Warriors' offense sputtered early, managing just 22 points midway through the second quarter as Houston unleashed a 17-4 run. Yet Curry refused to let the game slip away, scoring 13 points in the second frame and igniting a 9-0 run to cut the halftime deficit to just three. He continued his onslaught in the third, adding 12 more points on an efficient 5-of-6 shooting clip.

History Made: Curry Moves Into Top-10 All-Time Playoff Scoring

Early in the fourth quarter, Curry added another milestone to his legendary résumé. With a vintage crossover and step-back three over Dillon Brooks, Curry passed Hall of Famer Tony Parker to move into 10th place on the NBA’s all-time playoff scoring list. The triple also marked the 60th time Curry has scored 30+ points in a postseason game, joining an elite group of just eight players to ever do so.

Gary Payton II Shines in Clutch Moments

While Curry starred, Gary Payton II came up huge down the stretch. Scoring 11 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting night, Payton energized the Warriors with a timely corner three, a two-handed slam, and a stunning reverse dunk to help extend a slim lead into a comfortable margin. Payton, speaking postgame, summarized the Warriors' mindset simply: "Protect Jimmy [Butler] at all costs."

Warriors Take Control of the Series

Statistically, history now favors Golden State. Teams that take a 2-1 lead in a playoff series have gone on to win 79.2% of the time. Should the Warriors win Game 4 and take a 3-1 lead, their chances of advancing rise to a staggering 95.2%.

With Butler's potential return looming for Game 4 and Curry operating at the peak of his powers, Golden State has stolen home-court advantage — and looks primed to push deeper into the Western Conference playoffs.

Up Next: Game 4 is scheduled for Monday night at Chase Center, where the Warriors look to build on their momentum and edge closer to the semifinals.

The Warriors secured the win through a combination of Stephen Curry’s all-around brilliance, timely contributions from their supporting cast, and lockdown defense in crucial stretches.

Even without Jimmy Butler, Golden State stayed composed under pressure, executing key plays late in the game and converting defensive stops into momentum-shifting scores.

Gary Payton II’s energy and efficiency in the fourth quarter perfectly complemented Curry's leadership, showing that the Warriors' success wasn’t built on individual heroics alone but on team-wide resilience and smart basketball.

However, Golden State still showed vulnerability early, struggling to generate consistent offense and allowing Houston to build a double-digit lead. Sharpening their early execution and reducing stagnant possessions will be vital in Game 4, especially if Butler remains sidelined.

For the Rockets, missed opportunities defined the night. After controlling much of the first half with defensive pressure and fast-break scoring, Houston allowed the Warriors to climb back by failing to sustain their intensity and letting Curry dictate the game's pace. They struggled to contain perimeter shooting and couldn't find a reliable offensive option when Golden State tightened their defense.

Heading into Game 4, the Rockets must focus on maintaining defensive discipline for a full 48 minutes, pressuring Curry more aggressively off the ball, and finding secondary scoring behind their primary stars. If they can limit Golden State’s role players from getting easy looks and force Curry into tougher, contested shots earlier in possessions, they can regain control of the series.