Reed Sheppard pulled off a big win, scoring a career-high 31 points in a remarkable performance, adding nine rebounds and five assists, as the Houston Rockets rallied from a 12-point deficit at halftime to beat the Warriors 104-100 in a rematch of last season’s first round.
The players put in a spectacular performance, as Jimmy Butler had 21 points, five rebounds and five assists; Stephen Curry scored 14 points; and rookie Will Richard added 18 for the Warriors.
On the other end, Moses Moody, who reached 2,000 career points, hit a 3-pointer with six seconds left to pull Golden State within two.
Alperen Sengun successfully added 16 points, six rebounds and six assists for Houston, which scored 22 points off Golden State’s 16 turnovers and won for the seventh time in eight games.
Curry and Amen Thompson were observed taking a hard fall with 3:24 to go, with the score tied at 91, after Thompson’s hard drive was tracked to the ring. The play was initially reviewed for a foul.
However, Houston disputed the call and the ruling on Curry was reversed.
Sheppard’s back-to-back baskets in the closing moments of the third quarter helped Houston pull within 76-64 and advance to the fourth, opening with a 5-0 burst.
The Rockets were missing Steven Adans due to a sprained ankle and former Warriors star Kevin Durant due to a personal matter.
Golden State center AI Horford missed his second straight game with sciatica in his right leg, while forward Jonathan Kuminga practiced with the G League Warriors earlier in the day.
The big 104-100 win, which included Reed Sheppard’s career high, reflects the emergence of a young star and keeps the Rockets moving forward as a serious contender.
