NBA: Rockets look to clean up mistakes against Warriors

With the final weeks of the regular season underway, the Houston Rockets find themselves in a tight race for the third seed in the Western Conference. To hold off the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets, Houston must address the mistakes that have plagued them all season.

The Rockets secured a 123-118 win over the Washington Wizards on Monday, a game that wasn’t as close as the final score suggested. Houston won two games during a three-game road trip and now returns home for eight of the next 10 contests, beginning Thursday against the Golden State Warriors.

For Houston, Monday’s victory reflected both the team’s strengths and its recurring issues. Alperen Sengun posted his 26th double-double of the season with 32 points and 13 rebounds, while Kevin Durant added 30 points on just 15 shot attempts.

Amen Thompson also contributed a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds before leaving in the fourth quarter due to an ankle injury. Meanwhile, Reed Sheppard continued his impressive recent form with 19 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds, and six steals.

However, turnovers remained a concern. The Rockets committed 21 giveaways, with Sengun (eight) and Durant (six) responsible for nearly two-thirds of the total. Houston ranks near the bottom of the league in turnovers per game (14.5), a trend that has hindered the team throughout the season.

“We turned it over too much, but a lot of that was late,” Durant said. “We can correct that type of stuff.”

Sengun added, “We'll fix it with some film. It's easy to fix that next game.”

With the playoffs approaching, the Rockets must prove they can limit live-ball turnovers and maintain composure under pressure. Durant and Sengun have carried a heavy offensive load, with Sheppard and Thompson providing important support. Still, turning defensive awareness and ball security into a habit will be key for Houston’s postseason hopes.

On the other side, the Warriors are facing a challenging stretch. Since winning six of seven games from January 7-19, Golden State is 6-11 and clinging to the eighth spot in the West. Their 114-101 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Monday cut their lead in the standings to just one game.

Injuries have hit the Warriors hard. Stephen Curry (knee), Jimmy Butler (knee), and Kristaps Porzingis (illness) are all sidelined. Curry missed all 10 games last month and is not expected to be reevaluated until next week, just before his 38th birthday.

After a strong first-half showing against the Clippers, the Warriors were outscored 72-45 in the final 24 minutes, highlighting the difficulty of sustaining energy with a depleted roster.

“It’s tough to sustain that kind of effort for 48 minutes when you’re severely undermanned,” said Warriors coach Steve Kerr. “You have to generate that energy defensively to try to create some offense out of it like we did in the first half.”

As Houston prepares for its upcoming home-heavy schedule, the ability to limit mistakes and maintain focus will be critical in solidifying its playoff position.

—Field Level Media/Reuters