Warriors unleash three-point barrage to ground Rockets

Andrew Wiggins buried a career-high-tying eight three-pointers, Stephen Curry and Jordan Poole combined for 13 more, and the Golden State Warriors wore down the visiting Houston Rockets from long range in a 120-101 victory in San Francisco on Saturday night, December 3 (Sunday, December 4, Manila time).

The matchup of two teams playing the second night of a back-to-back turned into a battle of the Warriors’ perimeter prowess against the Rockets’ relentless interior presence, which Golden State won by making 25 three-pointers.

Coming off a stunning win at Phoenix the night before, the Rockets didn’t go down easily even after falling behind 23-6 to start the game. 

Wiggins, Curry, Poole, and Draymond Green hit three-pointers in the game-opening flurry to set the stage for things to come.

The Warriors went on to lead by as many as 25, but two Josh Christopher free throws at the 6:59 mark of the fourth period got Houston within 100-96.

However, Golden State had one more push in it, with Curry drilling three more three-pointers and Moses Moody sinking one in a 16-2 burst that put the game away.

Wiggins finished 8-for-10 from deep, Curry 8-for-17, and Poole 5-for-8, accounting for 21 of the Warriors’ long-distance successes on a night where they made 25-of-52. 

Moody chipped in with a 3-for-3 effort en route to 11 points.

Wiggins led Golden State with a season-best 36 points, while Curry totaled 30 and Poole 21. 

Poole got the start in place of Klay Thompson, who was resting on the second night of a back-to-back, following Golden State’s 119-111 home win over the Chicago Bulls on Friday.

Curry also found time for a game-high 10 assists, while Kevon Looney had a game-high 12 rebounds to go with 9 points.

With Wiggins going 14-for-19 overall, the Warriors outshot the Rockets 52.9% to 44.0%.

Kevin Porter Jr. paced the Rockets with 20 points, but missed 8 of his 9 three-point attempts. The visitors went just 3-for-28 from distance and were outscored 75-9 from beyond the arc.

Tari Eason had a 13-point, 10-rebound double-double for Houston, while Jalen Green and KJ Martin chipped in with 13 points apiece and Alperen Sengun supplied 12.

Usman Garuba tied Eason for team-high rebound honors with 10 as the Rockets outrebounded the Warriors 45-35 and outscored them 72-34 in the paint. – Rappler.com