MANILA – Golden State Warriors (GSW) bucked the absence of several players to score a 108-94 triumph over Houston Rockets in the 2020-2021 National Basketball Association (NBA) Season on Wednesday night at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas.
Jordan Poole top-scored with 23 points, including six triples, while Kelly Oubre Jr. chipped in 19 markers for the Warriors, which is at ninth spot in the Western Conference with a 21-20 win-loss slate.
Stephen Curry added 18 points before exiting the game with tailbone contusion, Andrew Wiggins had 17 points and Draymond Green posted triple-double 16 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists for GSW.
Aside from Curry, the Warriors were shorthanded with the absence of rookie James Wiseman and Eric Paschall, who will be out for a week to comply with the health and safety protocols due to coronavirus disease 2019.
Holding to a 31-27 lead after the first quarter, the Warriors started to pull away in the second period with baskets from Poole, Wiggins, and Green for a 70-44 advantage.
The Rockets attempted to come close in the second half at 71-86 but the Warriors answered with baskets from Poole, Damion Lee, and Oubre as the lead went up to 108-89.
Kevin Porter Jr. finished with 25 points, Christian Wood returned from almost two months of absence with 21 markers as the Rockets slumped to 11-28 record.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, meanwhile, came up huge in overtime as Milwaukee Bucks pulled off a come-from-behind 109-105 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. The victory allowed the Bucks to climb to third place in the Eastern Conference with a 26-14 slate, while 76ers dropped to 28-13, tied for East top-spot with Brooklyn Nets, which prevailed over Indiana Pacers, 124-115.
In other results, San Antonio Spurs (21-16) defeated Chicago Bulls (18-21), 106-99; Cleveland Cavaliers (15-25) edged Boston Celtics (20-20), 117-110; Sacramento Kings (16-24) prevailed over Washington Wizards (14-25), 121-119; and Detroit Pistons (11-29) upset Toronto Raptors (17-23), 116-112.
BOX SCORE:
GOLDEN STATE 108 – Poole 23, Oubre 19, Curry 18, Wiggins 17, Green 16, Looney 7, Mannion 5, Lee 3, Bazemore 0, Toscano-Anderson 0.
HOUSTON 94 – Porter 25, Wood 21, Martin 13, House 11, Lamb 9, Jones 6, Brown 4, Patton 3, Tate 2.
Quarterscores: 31-27, 68-44, 86-71, 108-94./PN
