Houston Rockets head coach Paul Silas (left) and Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) acknowledge the fans after Sun Nov 7, 2021’s game at the Chase Center in San Francisco (AP News photo)

Golden State Continues Their Winning Ways – 120-107

By Barbara Mason

Nemanja Bjelica led the Golden State Warriors to a 120-107 win over the Houston Rockets shooting a flurry of shots from downtown sending the Chase Center into hysteria. His play was electric as was the entire Golden State bench.

Sunday evening the Golden State Warriors (8-1) continued their 8-game home-stand taking on the Houston Rockets(1-9).

The Warriors have been playing lights out basketball cruising past a solid Charlotte followed by obliterating the New Orleans Pelicans.

In tonights game the Rockets will be counting on Jae’Sean Tate and Daniel Theis. Alperen Sengun is also a threat off the bench. The Warriors will continue to try and handle the turnovers and continue with the solid offensive and defensive effort they have been show-casing all season; an effort that has them at the top of the Western Conference.

The Rockets came out strong in the first quarter playing the Warriors very close. As the game wore on it became apparent that Houston was playing very well, and the Warriors would have to bring their A-game for this one. Of course as has been the case all season, Golden State brings their best stuff in the second half. That’s when they close out these games, in some cases they are blow outs. After the first quarter the score was 37-32 in favor of the Warriors.

At the half the Warriors had extended their lead 69-61. The consistency from Golden State was wearing the Rockets down. Houston came out strong but they would have to continue a high level of play in the second half if they would have any chance at all. The third and fourth quarters are when Golden State is the most dangerous.

As expected the Warriors came unglued in the third quarter extending their lead to 103-83. The Warriors lived up to all expectations in the second half and then some. Golden State closed out this game 120-107 although Houston made a weak bid to make this a close game at the end of the fourth quarter.

The Warriors had five players in double figures with Jordan Poole leading the starters with 25 points. Off the bench Gary Payton II had double digits but it was Otto Porter Jrs. who had the high with 15 points. This win sent the Warriors to an 8-1 record leading the pack in the Western Conference. The Warriors did what they needed to do to win this game. They stopped the fouls that they were committing in the first half. They went on to stick to their formula because it is working to perfection.

Tomorrow, Monday evening the Warriors will face the Atlanta Hawks. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM.