Thompson drops 28 in win over Rockets.
Kerr praises team after Warriors beat Rockets despite playing without Kevin Durant
HOUSTON » So, the Rockets did not have JamesHarden to flail his arms up in the air and draw fouls seemingly every time he drove to the basket. So, the Warriors did not have Kevin Durant to use his sharp footwork and shooting stroke to score from any spot on the floor.
So once the Warriors escaped with a 124-114 victory over the Houston Rockets on Thursday, Warriors coach Steve Kerr felt compelled to go around the locker roomand thank every player individually for helping the Warriors (31-8) win their ninth consecutive road game. Kerr zipped past the expected recipients of such praise, including Stephen Curry (29 points), Klay Thompson (28 points) and Draymond Green (17 points, 14 rebounds, 10 assists).
Instead, Kerr centered on third-year forward Kevon Looney, whose scoreless performance did not capture the defense needed to slow down the Rockets.
“It was just an amazing example of what being a professional is about in this league,” Kerr said of Looney, who had either received healthy scratches or mop- up
duty in the previous seven games. “He came in and made huge difference on night we really needed it.”
Looney temporarily climbed up the depth charter over rookie forward Jordan Bell, who fell for Chris Paul’s pump fakes way to often as Paul had a 28-point performance.
“It’s always good to hear from your coach,” Looney said. “I was making contributions. I’ve been working hard. To see that work pay off has been good.”
Kerr’s gesture, aside, the Warriors relied on more familiar names to absorb the absence of Durant, who suffered a strained right calf after taking a fall during Wednesday’s game in Dallas.
Curry continued to round into form in 37 minutes in his third game since missing the previous 11 with a sprained right ankle. Thompson hit a 3-pointer that gave the Warriors a 113103 lead with 5:33, prompting him to pound his chest after an unnamed high school friend engaged in some “good friendly banter” behind the players’ bench.
“I probably would’ve been excited if I shot that and made that or not,” Thompson said. “When you get on a little run, it’s always fun to capitalize.”
Green would only rate Thompson’s emotions a “3.” After all, Green’s fiery demeanor partly explains how he surpassed Tom Gola as the franchise leader in triple- doubles (21).
“I just try to play within our system and try to play to my strengths,” Green said. “One of my strengths has always been to pass the basketball. I’ve always been able to rebound the ball. I got better defensively when I got to the NBA. I tried to continue to improve my shooting. It’s not necessarily an art. It’s hard work and trying to play within myself.”
The Warriors managed to do just that despite absences to Durant and Omri Casspi, who missed his second consecutive game with amid-back strain. Warriors forward David West ( 12 points) also left late in the game with a sprained left ankle that will be evaluated on Friday. While the Warriors do not consider any injuries serious, the Warriors had enough to absorb them against a team that still stockpiled their roster to beat them.
The Rockets had Eric Gordon (30 points) thriving in the paint (12 of 24) after struggling from 3-point range (2 of 9). Houston also had Gerald Green (29) firing from the perimeter in what marked the latest adventure for a swingman that struggled cementing an NBA career for the past decade.
“You have to assume they’ll be one of the last teams standing in the Western Conference. We hope to be there,” Curry said. “We got enough inspiration and motivation to get back out there because of how good it feels. Whoever we got to play, we got to play.”
So on Thursday, the Warriors became willing to rely on plenty of players to secure a win despite missing a star player.