Facing potential elimination, Amen Thompson leads Rockets past Warriors in Game 5 blowout

Facing potential elimination in a first-round playoff showdown, the Houston Rockets kept their 2024-25 season alive with Wednesday’s dominant 131-116 Game 5 victory (box score) over the Warriors.

Golden State now leads the best-of-seven Western Conference series by a 3-2 margin, with Game 6 scheduled for Friday in San Francisco. Should the Rockets win that one, a decisive Game 7 would be set for Sunday in Houston.

The Rockets led by more than 30 points midway through the third quarter, when both teams largely pulled their starters to conserve energy for Game 6. Facing Houston’s backups, the Warriors cut into the margin in a largely cosmetic fourth quarter.

Key statistical lines included:

Amen Thompson: 25 points, 6 rebounds, 5 steals, 3 assists, 3 blocks; 8-of-12 shooting (66.7%), 8-of-9 on free throws (88.9%); game-high +32 in 25 minutes
Alperen Sengun: 15 points, 9 assists, 9 rebounds; 6-of-9 shooting (66.7%)
Fred VanVleet: 25 points; 8-of-13 shooting (61.5%), 4-of-6 on 3-pointers (66.7%), 6-of-6 on free throws
Dillon Brooks: 24 points, 2 assists; 7-of-13 shooting (53.8%), 6-of-6 on free throws
Jalen Green: 11 points, 7 rebounds; 3-of-8 shooting (37.5%), 2-of-4 on 3-pointers (50.0%)
Tari Eason: 9 points, 5 rebounds in 19 minutes; 4-of-5 shooting (80.0%), 1-of-2 on 3-pointers (50.0%)
Steph Curry (Warriors): 13 points, 7 assists in 23 minutes; 4-of-12 shooting (33.3%), 3-of-9 on 3-pointers (33.3%)
Moses Moody (Warriors): 25 points, 9 rebounds, 2 steals; 9-of-18 shooting (50.0%)

After struggling from the free-throw line in Game 3 and Game 4 losses, Houston was much improved with a 32-of-38 showing (84.2%) in Game 5.

The Rockets dominated most of offensive categories, including overall shooting (55.1% vs. 41.7%), 3-point shooting (43.3% vs. 34.1%), and free-throws drawn (38 vs. 22).

Game 1: Warriors 95, Rockets 85 (Golden State leads, 1-0)
Game 2: Rockets 109, Warriors 94 (Series tied, 1-1)
Game 3: Warriors 104, Rockets 93 (Golden State leads, 2-1)
Game 4: Warriors 109, Rockets 106 (Golden State leads, 3-1)
Game 5: at Houston (Golden State leads, 3-2)
Game 6, if necessary: at Golden State (Friday, May 2, TBD)
Game 7, if necessary: at Houston (Sunday, May 4, TBD)