The Houston Rockets outlasted the Golden State Warriors 115-108, with Kevin Durant leading the charge.
The news of the Rockets' stunning upset over the Warriors hits me with a mix of shock and delight. I'm still trying to wrap my head around how they managed to take down Golden State 115-108, despite being underdogs going into this game. The Warriors were supposed to be unstoppable, but it was clear from the opening tip that the Rockets had something special cooking - their energy and determination were palpable from the start.
The Rockets' Top Scorers
- Kevin Durant scored 20 points for the Houston Rockets.
- Alperen Sengun scored 19 points and grabbed 13 rebounds for the Houston Rockets.
- Amen Thompson scored 19 points for the Houston Rockets.
The Warriors' offense was led by Yaxel Lendeborg, who scored 25 points. However, it wasn't enough to overcome the Rockets' strong performance.
The Warriors' Struggles
It's clear that the Warriors are still feeling the effects of their injuries. Gary Payton II was out due to a knee injury, and Will Richard was considered a game-time decision with a thumb injury. This lack of depth showed in the team's performance.
Rockets Get By Warriors with Crucial Fourth-Quarter Comeback
It seemed like the Rockets were going to run away with it in the fourth quarter, but the Warriors managed to keep it close until the end. The turning point came when Kevin Durant hit a crucial three-pointer with just over two minutes left on the clock.
By the Numbers: Golden State Warriors at Houston Rockets
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Golden State Warriors | 20 | 28 | 31 | 29 | 108 |
| Houston Rockets | 35 | 21 | 29 | 30 | 115 |
Points by quarter
| Player | Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yaxel Lendeborg | Golden State Warriors | 5 | 13 | 7 | – | 25 |
| Kevin Durant | Houston Rockets | 11 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 20 |
| Brandin Podziemski | Golden State Warriors | 6 | – | 7 | 6 | 19 |
| Alperen Sengun | Houston Rockets | 9 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 19 |
| Amen Thompson | Houston Rockets | 2 | – | 15 | 2 | 19 |
| Fred VanVleet | Houston Rockets | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 18 |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | Houston Rockets | 3 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 14 |
| Reed Sheppard | Houston Rockets | 2 | 2 | – | 9 | 13 |
Top 5 by points
| # | Player | Team | Points | Line |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yaxel Lendeborg | Golden State Warriors | 25 | 25 pts · 10 reb · 0 ast · FG 9-19 · 36 min |
| 2 | Brandin Podziemski | Golden State Warriors | 22 | 22 pts · 6 reb · 4 ast · FG 7-15 · 37 min |
| 3 | Kevin Durant | Houston Rockets | 20 | 20 pts · 4 reb · 5 ast · FG 8-17 · 34 min |
| 4 | Alperen Sengun | Houston Rockets | 19 | 19 pts · 13 reb · 9 ast · FG 8-14 · 37 min |
| 5 | Amen Thompson | Houston Rockets | 19 | 19 pts · 7 reb · 4 ast · FG 8-11 · 29 min |
Best on the night
- Alperen Sengun (Houston Rockets): 19 pts · 13 reb · 9 ast · FG 8-14 · 37 min
- Yaxel Lendeborg (Golden State Warriors): 25 pts · 10 reb · 0 ast · FG 9-19 · 36 min
- Brandin Podziemski (Golden State Warriors): 22 pts · 6 reb · 4 ast · FG 7-15 · 37 min
Rough night
- Al Horford (Golden State Warriors): 2 pts on FG 1-7, 0 turnovers, 3 fouls in 21 min
- Marcus Smart (Houston Rockets): 6 pts on FG 2-2, 1 turnovers, 4 fouls in 17 min
- Tari Eason (Houston Rockets): 6 pts on FG 2-11, 1 turnovers, 0 fouls in 22 min
Fouls
Team fouls: Golden State Warriors 20 · Houston Rockets 23.
Injuries and absences
- Gary Payton II (Golden State Warriors) — Out: Payton (knee) is out for Wednesday's game against Houston.
- Will Richard (Golden State Warriors) — Out: Richard (thumb) is questionable for Wednesday's game against Houston.
- Brandon Williams (Golden State Warriors) — Out: Williams (hamstring) will miss at least one week, per Anthony Slater of ESPN.com.
- Kristaps Porzingis (Golden State Warriors) — Out: Porzingis announced on his social media that he's stepping away from basketball.
- Moses Moody (Golden State Warriors) — Out: Moody (knee) is progressing toward a potential return between December and January after rupturing his left patellar tendon in March, Anthony Slater of ESPN rep
- Jimmy Butler III (Golden State Warriors) — Out: Butler (knee) could return sometime between January and February as he continues recovering from a torn right ACL, Anthony Slater of ESPN reports.
- Clint Capela (Houston Rockets) — Out: Head coach Ime Udoka stated Monday that Capela (ankle) could be cleared to return either Nov. 15 in Washington or Nov. 16 in Miami, Lachard Binkley of SI.com re
- Steven Adams (Houston Rockets) — Out: Head coach Ime Udoka said Monday that Adams could return as soon as Sunday's game at Washington, Lachard Binkley of SI.com reports.
Injury update
Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors) is listed out — Curry has been diagnosed with an oblique abdominal tear and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, Shams Charania of ESPN reports. (report of 2026-11-12), per the league's injury report.
The Impact on the NBA Playoffs
I'm still trying to wrap my head around what this win means for the Houston Rockets' chances in the playoffs. With a record like this, they're definitely making a strong case for themselves as a top contender. And let's be real, taking down the Warriors is no easy feat - it shows that they've got the skills and determination to take on anyone.
The Warriors, on the other hand, are going to have to regroup and figure out how to bounce back from this loss. They're still dealing with injuries, but you can't blame them for feeling frustrated after coming so close only to fall short. It's clear that they've got a lot of work to do if they want to make it to the playoffs.
As for the Rockets, I think we're going to see a lot more of this kind of performance from them in the coming weeks. They've got a talented young core and a coach who knows how to get the most out of them. If they can keep playing like this, they'll be a force to be reckoned with come playoff time.
The Players Who Made It Happen
I want to give some love to Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson, who both had huge games for the Rockets tonight. Sengun's 19 points and 13 rebounds were a game-changer, and Thompson's 19 points off the bench really helped seal the deal. These two young players are going to be key to the Rockets' success all season long.
And of course, we can't forget about Kevin Durant - he's still one of the best scorers in the league, and his 20 points tonight were a big part of why the Rockets won. But what I love is that he didn't do it alone - he had help from his teammates, and they all worked together to get the job done.
As for the Warriors, Yaxel Lendeborg was their bright spot tonight with 25 points. He's a talented young player who's going to be one to watch in the coming years. But even he couldn't carry his team to victory tonight - it just goes to show how tough this loss is going to sting for them.
The Chemistry Between Durant and His New Teammates
I've been saying it since the trade, Kevin Durant is a game-changer for the Houston Rockets. And tonight, we saw him in action with his new teammates. What struck me was how seamlessly he fit into their system. He's still getting to know them, but you could see the chemistry building between him and Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and the rest of the squad.
It's not just about Durant's scoring ability - although, let's be real, 20 points is nothing to sneeze at. It's about how he elevates his teammates' games. He drew defenders away from Sengun and Thompson, allowing them to get open shots and make plays. And when the Warriors tried to double-team him, Durant found ways to exploit their defense.
This is what makes Durant so special - his ability to adapt to any situation and make his teammates better. It's a quality that's hard to teach, and it's something that will serve the Rockets well in the playoffs.
- The Rockets' win over the Warriors marks their second victory of the season against a top contender.
- Durant's performance tonight was his highest scoring output since joining the Rockets.
- Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson are now tied for second on the team in scoring, with both players averaging over 19 points per game.
The final score was 115-108 in favor of the Houston Rockets. This loss marks the second time this season that the Warriors have fallen to the Rockets. It's clear that these teams will be battling it out for playoff spots all season long.
