Jimmy Butler returns from injury
absence to lead Warriors past Rockets 109-106 for 3-1 series lead
[April 29, 2025]
By JANIE McCAULEY
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jimmy Butler converted three free throws with
58.7 seconds left, grabbed the game-clinching rebound with 4 seconds
to go and then made two more free throws on the way to 27 points in
his return from a pelvic injury, sending the Golden State Warriors
past the Houston Rockets 109-106 on Monday night in a heated Game 4
to take a 3-1 lead in the first-round playoff series.
Fred VanVleet missed a 3-pointer under pressure at the buzzer.
The teams return to Houston for Game 5 in the best-of-seven series
on Wednesday night as seventh-seeded Golden State tries to close out
the No. 2 seed Rockets on their home floor.
Brandin Podziemski scored 26 points, Stephen Curry finished with 17
in the frantic finish and Buddy Hield hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with
3:32 left and scored 15 after joining the starting lineup.
Alperen Sengun scored with 40 seconds left for Houston to make it a
one-point game. He had 31 points and 10 rebounds, while VanVleet hit
a tying 3-pointer with 1:20 to play and scored 25 points.
Butler was back after sitting out Game 3 with a pelvic contusion and
deep gluteal muscle bruise suffered on a hard fall when he was
fouled by Amen Thompson early in Game 2.
The second quarter Monday featured four technical fouls and a
flagrant 1 in two separate tussles, including shoving during one
sequence involving Curry, Draymond Green and Dillon Brooks.
[to top of second column] |
Golden State Warriors' Quentin Post scuffles with Houston Rockets'
Jabari Smith, Jr. and Dillon Brooks in the second quarter of an NBA
Playoffs' First Round Game 4 at Chase Center in San Francisco on
Monday, April 28, 2025.(Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via
AP)
With the game tied at 36, Curry dribbled down the
sideline when Green put a hard screen on Houston’s Amen Thompson.
Brooks fouled Curry and he appeared to become angry about the push
before going at Curry and Green.
Curry received a technical for “taunting” Brooks, who also received
a technical along with Green. Warriors rookie Quinten Post and
Houston’s Jabari Smith Jr. flailed their arms at each other but
avoided technicals upon replay review by the officials.
Then with 2:44 left in the quarter, tempers flared again. Green
received a Flagrant 1 foul for pushing Tari Eason’s face to the
ground and Eason also received a technical. Green was dribbling when
Eason went for a steal and the ball got loose and both players hit
the floor trying to corral it. Green’s left leg was on the Rockets
forward’s neck.
Butler shot 7 for 12 in 40 minutes after he watched Curry overcome a
slow start to finish with 36 points, nine assists and seven rebounds
in Golden State's 104-93 victory Saturday night without him.
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