Warriors Top Rockets in Game 1 Defensive Battle

The Golden State Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets 95-85 in Game 1 of their first-round NBA playoff series, led by a strong performance from Steph Curry. Houston held the Warriors to 95 points and dominated the offensive glass with a 22-6 advantage, but shot just 39% from the field and 20% from three-point range. Rockets coach Ime Udoka praised the team's defense but lamented poor offensive execution, especially as several players made their playoff debuts. Alperen Sengun led Houston with 26 points, while Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green struggled to find their shooting rhythm. The Rockets showed resilience by cutting a 23-point deficit to just four late in the game, but Golden State's experience and timely scoring secured the victory. Significant offensive improvements are needed for Houston to compete in the rest of the series.