Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets Match Player Stats
The Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets match player stats from March 5, 2026, tell the story of one of the most competitive NBA games of the season — a back-and-forth battle at Toyota Center in Houston that went down to the final buzzer. When the dust settled, the Warriors escaped with a 115–113 road victory, but nothing about it was easy. Both rosters delivered standout individual efforts, and the box score reflects just how fine the margins were between winning and losing on this particular night.
Table of Contents
Match Overview
The Warriors traveled to Houston for a Western Conference clash that quickly turned into a chess match between two hungry teams. Golden State came in looking to claw back some ground in the standings after a string of inconsistent results, while Houston — buoyed by a youthful, energetic core — was determined to protect their home court.
The first quarter set an early tone for the Warriors, who led 14–12 after the opening period. But Houston responded emphatically in the second, outscoring Golden State 27–21 to flip the game on its head. The Rockets controlled the third quarter as well, building what looked like a comfortable enough advantage, outscoring the visitors 35–30 to head into the final period up by six.
The fourth quarter, though, belonged to Golden State. Composed under pressure and finding the right shots at the right moments, the Warriors closed 20–19 in the final frame — just enough to seal it. The final score: Golden State Warriors 115, Houston Rockets 113.
It was a game defined by paint dominance, sharp shooting from distance, and a handful of individual performances that will linger in the memory for some time.
Golden State Warriors Player Stats
The Warriors got contributions across the board, with their starting lineup and key bench pieces all chipping in during crucial stretches. Brandin Podziemski led the team in scoring while Draymond Green ran the offense like a conductor from the power forward position.
| Player | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks | Field Goal % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brandin Podziemski | 36 | 26 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 55.6% |
| De’Anthony Melton | 38 | 23 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 45.5% |
| Al Horford | 32 | 17 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 46.7% |
| Gui Santos | 34 | 14 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 50.0% |
| Draymond Green | 30 | 10 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 66.7% |
| LJ Cryer | 22 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 44.4% |
| Pat Spencer | 18 | 8 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 50.0% |
| Quinten Post | 16 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.0% |
| Malevy Leons | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
Team Totals: 115 points | 50 rebounds | 29 assists | 10 steals | 5 blocks | FG% 47.9%
Houston Rockets Player Stats
Houston’s effort was full of fight and quality, particularly from Reed Sheppard off the bench and Kevin Durant, who shouldered the scoring load alongside a composed Alperen Sengun. Amen Thompson was the engine of the team’s physicality and transition game throughout.
| Player | Minutes | Points | Rebounds | Assists | Steals | Blocks | Field Goal % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reed Sheppard | 35 | 30 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 63.2% |
| Kevin Durant | 36 | 23 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 50.0% |
| Amen Thompson | 34 | 18 | 10 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 53.3% |
| Alperen Sengun | 32 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 40.0% |
| Tari Eason | 28 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 40.0% |
| Josh Okogie | 20 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 50.0% |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | 26 | 3 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0.0% |
| Clint Capela | 16 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 50.0% |
Team Totals: 113 points | 59 rebounds | 26 assists | 11 steals | 2 blocks | FG% 45.8%
Top Performers of the Match
Brandin Podziemski (Warriors) — 26 Points, 9 Rebounds, 55.6% FG
The young guard has been one of the more quietly impressive players on the Warriors’ roster this season, and this performance underlined why. Podziemski was a handful all night, finishing 10-of-18 from the field and connecting on four threes at a 50% clip. His ability to attack the paint — he made 6 of 9 shots at the rim — gave the Warriors a driving threat they desperately needed in the fourth quarter. Nine rebounds from a guard is a remarkable return and speaks to his determination on the glass.
Reed Sheppard (Rockets) — 30 Points, 6 Assists, 63.2% FG
The standout individual performance of the entire game belonged to Houston’s Reed Sheppard. Coming off the bench, the guard was near-perfect — 12-of-19 from the field, 6-of-12 from beyond the arc, and a true shooting percentage of 78.9%. Sheppard kept the Rockets alive in the fourth quarter when the game was slipping away, manufacturing points through smart off-ball movement and ice-cold shooting. Thirty points on that kind of efficiency in a two-point loss is the definition of a valiant effort.
Kevin Durant (Rockets) — 23 Points, 6 Rebounds, 4 Steals
Durant’s stat line was well-rounded and impactful. He scored 23 on 50% shooting, grabbed six rebounds, and came through with four steals — a defensive contribution that put real pressure on the Warriors’ ball handlers. His three-point shooting (3-of-5, 60%) was a threat the Warriors never fully solved. In a game this tight, Durant’s overall contribution was enormous.
De’Anthony Melton (Warriors) — 23 Points, 3 Steals, 2 Blocks
Melton was Golden State’s defensive engine and scoring co-pilot. Three steals and two blocks gave the Warriors the hustle plays they needed to keep Houston from extending their lead in the third quarter. He crashed the offensive glass aggressively — a career trait — and his 23 points on interior finishing were vital in keeping the scoreline manageable heading into the final period.
Draymond Green (Warriors) — 10 Points, 8 Assists, 66.7% FG
Green’s stat line doesn’t shout, but his fingerprints were all over the Warriors’ fourth-quarter comeback. Eight assists against just two turnovers, combined with shooting 66.7% from the field, made him the most efficient distributor on the night. When Golden State needed calm decision-making in crunch time, Green delivered. His technical foul mid-game created a brief momentum swing for Houston, but he recovered composed.
Key Highlights of the Game
The game’s most pivotal moment came early in the fourth quarter. Houston held a six-point lead with under ten minutes to play, and the crowd inside Toyota Center was beginning to sense a victory. Golden State responded with a 10–2 run — their biggest unanswered scoring burst of the game — that swung the momentum decisively. Podziemski and Melton were the primary orchestrators of that run, combining for eight of those ten points.
Reed Sheppard’s first-half burst was something special. The rookie guard rattled off 17 points in the second quarter alone, connecting on four consecutive three-pointers at one stage and forcing the Warriors into defensive rotations they weren’t prepared for. That stretch gave Houston their halftime advantage and set the tone for what was a wildly entertaining second half.
The Rockets’ second-chance numbers were remarkable — 23 points off offensive rebounds, compared to the Warriors’ 17. Jabari Smith Jr., despite finishing scoreless from the field, hauled in 11 rebounds and gave Houston multiple extra possessions. That the Rockets still lost, despite dominating the glass, speaks to the Warriors’ efficiency in the moments that mattered.
A late technical foul on Draymond Green briefly handed Houston two free points and possession in the fourth quarter, briefly threatening to unravel Golden State’s momentum. It was a sloppy moment in an otherwise tight performance — the kind of lapse that in a closer game could prove fatal.
The final possession was tense. Houston, trailing by two with the ball and just seconds remaining, could not get off a clean look. Golden State’s defense — led by Melton and Green — scrambled to deny any clean look, and the buzzer ended Houston’s comeback bid.
Head-to-Head Record
The Warriors and Rockets share one of the NBA’s more storied Western Conference rivalries. Their battles in the late 2010s, when Houston’s small-ball lineups repeatedly clashed with Golden State’s championship teams, became must-watch television. The Rockets, led then by James Harden and Chris Paul, pushed the Warriors to seven games in the 2018 Western Conference Finals before Golden State prevailed.
In recent seasons, the dynamic has shifted. Houston has rebuilt into a young, explosive team, while the Warriors have navigated a transitional period of their own. This current edition of their rivalry features a Rockets squad eager to establish itself as a genuine Western Conference force. Over their last ten meetings heading into this game, Golden State had held a slight edge, but Houston had won three of their last five home matchups against the Warriors.
This March 2026 contest was Golden State’s second road game against Houston this season. The rivalry, though different in texture from its peak years, remains genuinely competitive, and March’s two-point finish was exactly the kind of game both fanbases have come to expect.
Final Score and Match Analysis
Final Score: Golden State Warriors 115 – Houston Rockets 113
For the Warriors, this was a gritty, character-defining win. They were outrebounded 59–50, surrendered 11 offensive boards, and spent the better part of three quarters chasing the game. Yet they found a way. Their ability to dominate the paint offensively — 60 points in the paint compared to Houston’s 48 — proved decisive. When Golden State gets to the rim at will, they are difficult to beat, and that was the story of the fourth quarter.
For Houston, the loss stings, but the performance gives cause for genuine optimism. Sheppard’s 30-point explosion off the bench showed that the Rockets have depth and young talent that can go toe-to-toe with anyone in the West. Thompson’s double-double, Durant’s all-around brilliance, and Sengun’s 17-point, 7-assist night demonstrate the ceiling of this Houston squad.
Golden State improved their road record and added a vital win in their push for a more comfortable playoff positioning. Houston, meanwhile, remains in the thick of the Western Conference playoff race, and a performance like this — in a game they were minutes away from winning — will only fuel their confidence for the stretch run.
Conclusion
The Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets match player stats paint the picture of a genuine thriller that could have gone either way. Sheppard’s 30-point masterclass, Podziemski’s all-round efficiency, and Durant’s composed veteran performance were the dominant individual storylines. But ultimately, it was Golden State’s paint dominance and Draymond Green’s fourth-quarter orchestration that proved the difference in a game settled by just two points.
Both teams showed why they deserve respect in the Western Conference. The numbers tell a balanced story: Houston shot better from three (41.2% vs 36.8%), won the rebounding battle comfortably, and had the lead for most of the night. Yet the Warriors’ ability to manufacture points at the rim — 21-of-27 at the basket — was the edge that mattered. In a season where every win counts, Golden State took theirs and left Houston wondering what might have been.
