Game 2 updates: Rockets take early lead as they look to tie playoff series versus Warriors

HOUSTON — In Wednesday’s Game 2 (box score) at Toyota Center, the Rockets are attempting to even their series versus the Warriors in the first round of the 2025 NBA playoffs. Golden State won Sunday’s Game 1 in the same building.

The stakes are significant. With a home win, the second-seeded Rockets would tie their best-of-seven, Western Conference series versus the seventh-seeded Warriors. That would effectively make it a best-of-five heading into Saturday’s Game 3 from San Francisco’s Chase Center.

But with a loss, Golden State would take a 2-0 lead while also having the next two games at home. In that scenario, the Rockets would need at least one road victory in Game 3 or Game 4 simply to avoid elimination, and they would need to take both in order to regain home-court advantage before a potential Game 5 back in Houston.

Thus, Game 2 is an extremely important game to the Rockets. All-Star center Alperen Sengun was outstanding in Game 1 with 26 points and 9 rebounds on better than 60% shooting, but the starting backcourt of Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green struggled massively (shooting barely above 20% overall and 10% on 3-pointers). In Wednesday’s rematch, Houston is looking for superior production from its guards.

Read on for highlights, statistics, interviews, and real-time updates.

In their Game 1 loss, the Rockets made just six 3-pointers in the entire game. In Game 2, they made seven in the first half alone, and they’re shooting almost 37% from deep after hovering near 20% on Sunday.

“Make shots,” head coach Ime Udoka said pregame of what the Rockets needed to two differently in Wednesday’s Game 2.

To say the least, they have, and it’s made an impact. The Warriors scored 47 points in the first half of Game 1 and held a 13-point lead, largely because Houston wasn’t making its shots.

Three nights later, the Warriors had an almost identical total of 46 points, yet they trail by 14 because the Rockets erupted with 60 of their own.

The Rockets have led by as many as 20 points, and they have maintained their usual advantages in rebounding (25-14) and paint points (24-14). But in contrast to Game 1, they’re making both 3-pointers and free throws. After shooting roughly 55% from the stripe in that Game 1 loss, Houston is 13-of-15 in Wednesday’s first half (86.7%).

Leading individual statistics, at the half, include:

Jalen Green: Game-high 15 points, 4 rebounds; 4-of-10 shooting (40.0%), 3-of-8 on 3-pointers (37.5%), 4-of-4 on free throws
Alperen Sengun: 13 points, 7 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 assists
Tari Eason: 12 points, 6 rebounds; 5-o-6 shooting (83.3%)

Starting forwards Dillon Brooks and Amen Thompson (3 fouls each) were limited to less than 15 combined minutes of play, which led to Eason’s additional usage.

Steph Curry leads the Warriors with 11 points and 5 assists, having made 4-of-8 shots (50.0%) and 3-of-5 from 3-point range (60.0%). However, co-star Jimmy Butler played only 8 minutes (scoring 3 points) before leaving with a pelvis contusion. The Warriors announced that he will not return to Game 2, and head coach Steve Kerr could offer additional information postgame regarding the outlook for future games.

After shooting above 60% in Game 1, Alperen Sengun hasn’t shot as well in Game 2, making just 3-of-11 shots (27.3%). Yet, he’s still stuffing the stat sheet with 7 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals, and the Rockets are +12 in his 17 minutes. That’s the best of any Game 2 player.

Pat Spencer has provided spark off Golden State’s bench with 9 points in 9 minutes, and he’s made 4-of-6 shots (66.7%). Spencer now leads the Warriors in Game 2 scoring.

After his earlier fall, Jimmy Butler will not return to Game 2 due to a pelvis contusion, the Warriors announced. Houston leads, 42-27, with 5:53 left until halftime.

The Rockets have their biggest lead of the series, and Warriors star Jimmy Butler is back in Golden State’s locker room area after taking a hard fall and landing on his tailbone.

With both Dillon Brooks and Amen Thompson in foul trouble (3 fouls each), reserve forward Tari Eason has stepped up off Houston’s bench with 9 points and 4 rebounds in 8 minutes, making him the game’s high scorer.

Jalen Green has played all 12 minutes and leads the Rockets in both points (7) and assists (4). The Warriors have shot just 6-of-19 overall (31.6%) and 3-of-11 from 3-point range (27.3%), and Houston’s swarming defense has limited Steph Curry and Jimmy Butler to just six combined shot attempts.

Unfortunately for Houston, Amen Thompson picked up a third foul and could be glued to the bench for some time. Veteran guard Aaron Holiday replaced Thompson and made his first series appearance.

On the other side, Warriors coach Steve Kerr is turning to athletic fourth-year forward Jonathan Kuminga for the first time this series. Kuminga had strong numbers against the Rockets in the 2024-25 regular season but largely fell out of Golden State’s playing rotation in recent games.

The Rockets are playing physically and have a 13-7 lead at the first timeout, with 6:41 left to play in the opening quarter. However, high scorer Amen Thompson (6 points) — who happens to be Houston’s most versatile and valuable defender — just picked up his second foul.

Jalen Green has 3 points and a game-high 3 assists.

Rockets:

Fred VanVleet, No. 5, guard
Jalen Green, No. 4, guard
Dillon Brooks, No. 9, forward
Amen Thompson, No. 1, forward
Alperen Sengun, No. 28, center

Warriors:

Steph Curry, No. 30, guard
Brandin Podziemski, No. 2, guard
Moses Moody, No. 4, forward
Jimmy Butler, No. 10, forward
Draymond Green, No. 23, center
Date: Wednesday, April 23
Location: Toyota Center, Houston
Channels: Space City Home Network, TNT

Rockets:

Jae’Sean Tate, right ankle impingement
Jack Landale, right knee contusion

Warriors:

Records and statistics (relative to the 30 NBA teams) during 2024-25:

Houston (52-30): No. 7 net rating (4.6), No. 12 offensive rating (114.9), No. 5 defensive rating (110.3)
Golden State (48-34): No. 10 net rating (3.2), No. 16 offensive rating (114.2), No. 7 defensive rating (111.0)

All times are p.m. and Central.