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Rockets stop Warriors in their tracks in playoff-flavoured matchup

In a game that could well be a repeat later in the postseason, the Houston Rockets delivered a blow to the table on Sunday with a 106-96 win over the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, ending Steve Kerr's team's streak of five straight victories.

With second place in the West still up for grabs and only three games left on the schedule, Houston took it seriously from the opening minute. Never one to go unnoticed, Dillon Brooks paced the team with 24 points, while Alperen Sengun did his part with 19 points and 14 rebounds to mark territory in the paint. Between them, they imposed a physical pace that made the Warriors uncomfortable from the outset, with the Warriors never really feeling comfortable.

But if there was one story that marked the night, it was that of Stephen Curry. The Warriors' star point guard turned in his weakest performance of the season in a game in which he was injury-free: just three points, with a poor 1 for 8 from three-point range. In fact, he didn't get on the scoreboard until he hit a three-pointer from home, 37 feet from the hoop, two seconds before halftime. Curry tried to contribute in other ways, though, and dished out seven assists in the first half despite constant pressure from the Texans' defence.

Houston knew how to make Golden State uncomfortable, and they did it on defence. Not only did they bleed Curry dry, but they limited the home team's overall pace. Even so, the Warriors tried to stay afloat thanks to Buddy Hield's 20 points and 19 from young Brandin Podziemski, who continues to show that he does not crumple even against strong opponents.

On the Rockets' side, Jalen Green was also on fire with 21 points, and Jabari Smith Jr. came off the bench with 16 points, providing key energy when the Warriors were threatening to get back into the game.

Beyond the result, the message from Houston's win is clear: they are not here to promise for the future, they are here to compete now. With three games to go in the regular season, they have their eye on second place, which would put them in a privileged position for the playoffs.

Golden State, meanwhile, will have to get their act together quickly. On Tuesday they visit the Phoenix Suns, who are also fighting for a better position for the post-season, and then they will host the Spurs, who, although they are not playing for anything, could be a headache if they get overconfident.

This result also puts pressure on a Western Conference that is red hot. Every win counts, and every slip-up can be costly. The Rockets know it, and they are proving it game after game.

What seemed like just another night down the stretch of the regular season turned out to be a serious warning from Houston to the rest of the league. With in-form players, a solid rotation and a defence capable of smothering even Stephen Curry himself, the Rockets not only won, they also sent a message: they are ready for what's next.