Tue Apr 29 03:50:00 UTC 2025: ## Rockets’ Green Explodes for 38 Points, Evens Series Against Warriors
**HOUSTON —** Jalen Green silenced his playoff jitters with a dominant performance, leading the Houston Rockets to a 109-94 victory over the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of their Western Conference first-round series. Green’s 38-point outburst, fueled by eight three-pointers, erased the memory of his seven-point Game 1 performance.
The seventh-seeded Rockets evened the series at 1-1, overcoming a significant blow to the Warriors early in the game. Jimmy Butler, acquired in a February trade, left the game with a pelvis contusion after a hard fall in the first quarter. His absence, coupled with Brandin Podziemski’s stomach ailment, significantly hampered Golden State’s offense.
Green’s aggressive play was a stark contrast to his playoff debut. “My whole mindset today was to go in and be aggressive and get back to being myself,” he stated post-game. His eight three-pointers alone surpassed the Rockets’ total from Game 1. Alperen Sengun contributed a double-double with 17 points and 16 rebounds, while Tari Eason added 14 points off the bench. Rockets coach Ime Udoka praised the dynamic duo of Green and Sengun, noting their effectiveness when both are performing at a high level.
Despite Stephen Curry’s 20 points and 9 assists—a performance that pushed him past 4,000 career playoff points—the Warriors couldn’t overcome the Rockets’ offensive firepower and the absence of key players. Coach Steve Kerr acknowledged the Rockets’ strong performance, stating simply, “We just didn’t have enough tonight.”
The game also saw several heated moments, resulting in a flagrant foul for Jalen Green and a technical foul for Draymond Green. Tari Eason also received a technical foul.
The series now shifts to Golden State for Game 3, with the Warriors awaiting the results of Butler’s MRI and assessing his availability. The outcome remains uncertain, but the Rockets have injected new life into their playoff run.
First Piper 