The Golden State Warriors made a bold lineup change on Saturday night, and it paid off in a gritty 112-105 victory over the Houston Rockets at the Toyota Center. Head coach Steve Kerr shuffled his starting five, inserting veteran Chris Paul and defensive specialist Jonathan Kuminga, a move that injected much-needed energy into a team that had been struggling for consistency.
From the opening tip, the Warriors played with a renewed sense of urgency. Stephen Curry, who had been in a shooting slump over the past few games, found his rhythm early, draining three first-quarter triples. The Rockets, led by Jalen Green and Alperen Şengün, responded with their trademark physicality, keeping the game close through the first half.
The turning point came in the third quarter when the Warriors’ new lineup began to take control. Kuminga’s defensive presence stifled Houston’s wing players, while Paul orchestrated the offense with precision, finishing with 12 assists. Draymond Green anchored the defense, providing timely stops and vocal leadership.
Despite Golden State’s surge, the Rockets refused to go away. Green and Fred VanVleet led a late charge, cutting the deficit to three with under two minutes to play. But Curry, as he has done so many times before, delivered in the clutch, sinking a deep three-pointer to push the lead back to six. A key defensive stop and a pair of free throws from Klay Thompson sealed the win.
Curry led all scorers with 28 points, while Thompson added 18. Kuminga, in his new starting role, chipped in 14 points and eight rebounds, earning praise from Kerr postgame. “Jonathan gave us exactly what we needed—energy, defense, and athleticism,” Kerr said. “He changed the game for us.”
For Houston, Green finished with 24 points, and Şengün added 20 and 10 rebounds, but it wasn’t enough to overcome Golden State’s veteran savvy.
The Warriors (now 29-24) hope this new lineup can provide the spark they need to climb the Western Conference standings. They’ll face another tough test against the Dallas Mavericks next.
As for Houston, the loss stings, but the young Rockets continue to show promise as they battle for a play-in spot.
With the playoffs looming, Golden State’s latest adjustment could prove to be the key to a deep postseason run.
