Rockets rue mistakes in Game 4 loss: ‘We’re going to get it’

Stephen Curry’s dazzling behind-the-back move was only the beginning of chaos. As Amen Thompson chased him down, Draymond Green blindsided the Rockets guard with a brutal screen that left him sprawled in pain. Moments later, Dillon Brooks laid out Curry, igniting a brief scuffle that captured the fire of this first-round series. But while Houston brought the fight, costly mistakes ultimately told the story.

The Rockets fell 109–106 to Golden State in Game 4, now trailing 3–1 in the Western Conference playoffs. “Guys are down, but they understand,” said coach Ime Udoka. “Consistency wins in this series… and we haven’t had that.”

Houston’s most glaring lapse? The free-throw line. They went 19-of-31—missing more free throws (12) than they hit from three-point range (also 12). The Warriors, meanwhile, calmly sank 20-of-22. It overshadowed strong performances from Alperen Sengun (31 points), Fred VanVleet (25), and Thompson (17), while Jalen Green was neutralized for the second straight game.

“These last two games suck,” VanVleet admitted. “They could have gone either way. Playoff margins are razor-thin. It comes down to possessions.”

Golden State has thrived when it matters most, outscoring Houston 22–10 in clutch time this series. Their Game 4 execution—12 clutch points with zero turnovers—was textbook.

Still, the Rockets aren’t folding. “We’re going home to get one,” VanVleet said defiantly. “This s— is not impossible. One game at a time.”