Warriors Hold Off Rockets 95-85 in Game 1

Stephen Curry led the Golden State Warriors with 31 points in a 95-85 victory over the Houston Rockets in Game 1 of their first-round playoff series. The Warriors built a 23-point lead, but Houston rallied to cut the deficit to four late in the game before key three-pointers from Curry and Moses Moody sealed the win. Jimmy Butler made a strong playoff debut for Golden State, contributing 25 points, seven rebounds, six assists, and five steals following his midseason trade. The Rockets, returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2020, were hampered by poor shooting, particularly from Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green, who combined for just 7 of 34 from the field. A controversial out-of-bounds call, which favored Golden State despite video evidence suggesting otherwise, further hindered Houston's comeback hopes. Warriors coach Steve Kerr earned his 100th playoff victory, tying him for sixth-most in NBA history.