Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets Match Player Stats – April 2025 Playoff Upset
The Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets match player stats from Game 1 of the 2025 NBA Western Conference First Round revealed why the 7th seed upset the 2nd seed.
Behind every playoff score lies a story told through individual performances and efficiency numbers.
The box score from this April 20th showdown at Toyota Center exposes exactly why Golden State stole home court advantage despite Houston’s apparent advantages on paper.
Stats never lie, but sometimes they need proper context to truly appreciate what happened on the hardwood.
The Game at a Glance
The 7th seeded Warriors stunned the basketball world with their 95-85 road win over the 2nd seeded Rockets at Toyota Center on April 20, 2025.
This wasn’t supposed to happen according to seeding logic.
Individual performances almost always tell the real story in playoff upsets.
Some players rise to the occasion.
Others shrink when the lights get brightest.
The numbers from this game expose both.
Warriors Star Players: Vintage Performances
Curry Doing Curry Things
Stephen Curry brought his A-game when it mattered most:
- 31 points on incredible efficiency
- 63.2% shooting from the field (12-19 FG)
- 5-9 from three (55.6%)
- 6 rebounds, 3 assists
- Played nearly 40 minutes
One sequence stands out vividly. With 8:43 left in the fourth quarter and Houston having cut the lead to just four points, Curry created space against VanVleet with his signature hesitation dribble, stepped back to the left wing, and launched a three that splashed through perfectly. The Toyota Center crowd went silent as Curry did his trademark shimmy celebration while backpedaling.
Curry hit a crucial fourth quarter three when Houston had cut the lead to just 4 points that essentially broke the Rockets’ momentum.
Classic Steph in the clutch.
His teammate Jimmy Butler referred to him as “Batman” during the post-game interviews, perfectly capturing Curry’s heroic performance.
This Game 1 explosion wasn’t surprising for Warriors fans who’ve watched Curry’s recent hot streak, including his stellar outing against the Portland Trail Blazers where his shooting was equally devastating.
“Playoff Jimmy” Was No Joke
Jimmy Butler showed exactly why Golden State acquired him:
- 25 points on 10-19 shooting
- 5 steals (game high)
- 7 rebounds and 6 assists
- Only 1 turnover in 42+ minutes
- Stifling perimeter defense
Butler delivered the exact two-way performance Golden State acquired him for.
Game analysts rated his defensive impact a “10/10” in their breakdown, highlighting how his perimeter lockdown fundamentally disrupted Houston’s offensive flow.
The Warriors’ front office gamble on “Playoff Jimmy” paid immediate dividends in this critical road victory.
Supporting Warriors Making Impact
Brandin Podziemski deserves a special mention:
- 14 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists
- Led all players with a +17 plus/minus
- Played solid minutes as a starter (35:14)
Moses Moody hit perhaps the biggest shot outside of Curry:
- His fourth quarter three pushed the lead from 4 to 7 points
- Finished with 7 points in 27+ minutes
Rockets Stats Breakdown: A Tale of Inefficiency
Şengün Shines, Others Struggle
Alperen Şengün had a strong playoff debut:
- 26 points (game high for Rockets)
- Efficient 11-18 shooting (61.1%)
- 9 rebounds
- Even dunked on Draymond Green
But his team-high 5 turnovers severely limited Houston’s offensive effectiveness, particularly in crucial possessions.
Backcourt Nightmare
The starting guards for Houston had a night to forget:
Fred VanVleet:
- 10 points on 4-19 shooting
- 2-13 from three point range
- 7 assists was the lone bright spot
Jalen Green:
- Just 7 points
- Shot 3-15 from the field
- 0-4 from three
Together, they shot a miserable 7-34 (20.6%) from the field.
No team wins playoff games with guard play that poor.
The Rebounding Paradox
Here’s something interesting about this game.
Houston absolutely dominated the glass:
- 52-36 overall rebounding advantage
- 22 offensive rebounds (compared to Warriors’ 6)
- Steven Adams grabbed 12 boards in just 19 minutes
- Amen Thompson added 9 rebounds (6 offensive)
But they couldn’t convert those extra chances. A telling sequence came midway through the third quarter when Houston grabbed three consecutive offensive rebounds on the same possession. Adams tipped it out, Thompson secured another, and then after Şengün got the third, his putback attempt was blocked cleanly by Draymond Green, leading to a Warriors fast break the other way.
This perfectly illustrates why raw rebounding numbers without context can mislead casual basketball fans.
Teams winning the rebounding battle by 16+ boards historically win about 80% of NBA games.
The exception? When your team shoots a miserable 39% from the field and 20% from three, turning those extra possessions into wasted opportunities.
Shooting Tells the Story
Look at these shooting percentages:
| Category | Warriors | Rockets |
|---|---|---|
| Field Goal % | 47.4% | 39.1% |
| Three Point % | 37.5% | 20.7% |
| Free Throw % | 78.6% | 55.0% |
These stark efficiency gaps explain the Warriors’ victory more than any other statistical category.
Basketball at its core rewards quality shot-making over volume shooting.
Houston managed 11 more field goal attempts (87 vs. 76) thanks to those offensive rebounds.
Golden State simply converted their opportunities at a championship-caliber rate, something Houston couldn’t match despite their extra chances.
What This Means for the Series
NBA playoff history shows teams stealing Game 1 on the road go on to win the series around 65% of the time.
Houston now confronts championship-level pressure heading into Game 2 at Toyota Center.
The shooting struggles from VanVleet (who apparently struggled with his shot entering the playoffs) and Green (who has historically performed poorly against the Warriors) must be corrected immediately.
Golden State returns to practice with psychological advantage, confidence, and strategic flexibility having already accomplished their minimum road goal. Their recent road form has been impressive, similar to what we saw in their commanding performance against the Utah Jazz earlier this month.
For UK fans watching the series, the games are typically broadcast in the early hours (around 2-3am BST), making this comprehensive box score breakdown especially valuable for those who missed the live action due to the time difference.
FAQs About Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets Match Player Stats
Who was the leading scorer in Game 1 between the Warriors and Rockets?
Stephen Curry led all Warriors with 31 points, while Alperen Şengün led the Rockets with 26 points.
How badly did the Rockets’ guards shoot in Game 1?
Fred VanVleet and Jalen Green combined to shoot just 7-34 (20.6%) from the field and 2-17 (11.8%) from three point range.
Did the Warriors win the rebounding battle?
No, Houston actually dominated rebounding 52-36, including 22 offensive rebounds, but failed to convert those extra possessions efficiently.
Who had the best plus/minus in the game?
Warriors rookie Brandin Podziemski led all players with a +17 rating in his 35 minutes on court.
What was the Warriors’ shooting percentage compared to the Rockets?
The Warriors shot 47.4% from the field compared to the Rockets’ 39.1%, while from three point range, Golden State shot 37.5% vs Houston’s 20.7%.
When is Game 2 scheduled?
Game 2 is scheduled to take place at the Toyota Center in Houston, with the Rockets looking to even the series before it shifts to San Francisco.
The deeper truth revealed by these Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets match player stats applies to virtually every playoff series: shooting efficiency almost always beats volume statistics when championship stakes are on the line. As the series progresses, Houston must find their shooting touch quickly, or they risk becoming another cautionary tale about prioritizing size over skill in modern basketball.
