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Facing a streaking team at nearly full strength is often a learning experience, but sometimes the result is what matters most. The Houston Rockets won't dwell on the fact that their ninth win of the season, and second consecutive, came against a Warriors squad that lost its offensive catalyst in the sixth minute of Wednesday's game.
Stephen Curry, who has been performing at a level reminiscent of his most spectacular seasons, suffered a hip injury in the first quarter and did not return, undoubtedly easing Houston's path to victory. However, it's worth noting that the Rockets were already off to a strong start, leading 19-10 when Curry departed, with Kevin Durant and Alperen Sengun each contributing seven points early on.
The Warriors continued to battle, narrowing the deficit to single digits in the fourth quarter and forcing the Rockets to execute efficiently down the stretch to secure the win.
Winners and Losers from the Rockets' Perspective
Winner: Alperen Sengun – The Rockets center's push toward an All-Star selection gained more momentum with another stat-sheet-stuffing performance. Sengun fueled Houston's strong first quarter (35-20) and finished just shy of a triple-double with 19 points, 13 rebounds, and nine assists. It has become routine for him to achieve such numbers while making at least half of his shots (he was 8 of 14 on Wednesday). Nothing seemed forced; it all flowed naturally within the offense.
Winner: Fred VanVleet – As shown in the photo above, VanVleet benefited from Curry's injury, which made the evening much easier. But it wasn't just that. VanVleet's efficiency continues to improve as he moves further past his injury and finds his rhythm. He made 6 of 9 shots, including 4 of 7 from three-point range, raising his shooting percentage in November to 49%. That's a significant improvement from October, and if he maintains this level, the Rockets will be extremely dangerous. It makes everyone on the floor a threat in some capacity. VanVleet posted a +25, the best on the team.
Loser: Marcus Smart – The Rockets pursued Marcus Smart in free agency partly because of his edge, an edge that was missing from Houston's side when they fell meekly to Smart and the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round last spring. But there is a line, and Smart crossed it when—trailing the play as teammate Amen Thompson scored and was fouled in transition—he threw a punch at Warriors reserve Charles Bassey. The incident apparently stemmed from their arms being locked while the Rockets were on defense, with Smart frustrated that Bassey didn't unlock. Smart was immediately ejected after the punch and retreated to the locker room, leaving Houston somewhat shorthanded in the backcourt rotation. Houston led 84-76 at the time. Bassey's head snapped back, though it was unclear whether Smart made contact. The NBA may now add further punishment. The good news is that all other Rockets stayed on the bench—so if Smart is sanctioned, it will only be him. Houston faces the one-win Utah Jazz on Friday, so his presence may not matter much.
Ethan is the CEO of Five Reasons Sports Network, based in South Florida, and manages the OnSI sites for the Houston Rockets, Florida Panthers, Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, Indiana Pacers, Memphis Grizzlies, and Milwaukee Bucks. Previously, he wrote for all major newspapers in South Florida as well as Bleacher Report and was an afternoon drive radio host. He holds a B.A. from The Johns Hopkins University and an M.S. from Columbia University. Follow EthanJSkolnick.