NBA: Short-handed Warriors outlast Rockets in OT

De'Anthony Melton sank a second-chance basket with just 5.3 seconds remaining, helping the short-handed Golden State Warriors hold off the host Houston Rockets for a 115-113 overtime victory on Thursday.

Melton grabbed a missed tip shot by Gui Santos and scored to give the Warriors a 115-112 lead. Houston had a chance to tie on the previous possession, but Kevin Durant missed the third of three free throws after being fouled with 29.9 seconds left.

Melton finished with 23 points and six rebounds, while Brandin Podziemski led Golden State with 26 points and nine rebounds, including five points early in overtime that helped the Warriors take a 111-106 lead. The Warriors were missing Stephen Curry and Kristaps Porzingis, in addition to Jimmy Butler III, who was sidelined for the season in January with a torn ACL.

For Houston, Reed Sheppard led all scorers with 30 points, including six 3-pointers, and added six assists. Durant contributed 23 points, Amen Thompson posted a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds, and Alperen Sengun had 17 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists. Santos added 14 points, six rebounds, and six assists, while Al Horford had 17 points, six rebounds, and five assists for the Warriors.

The game featured a thrilling finish to regulation, highlighted by Sengun’s three-point play and two hook shots, as well as clutch 3-pointers from Melton and Horford. Horford’s triple gave Golden State a 101-99 lead with 45.2 seconds left, but Sengun’s basket inside the final 1:42 forced overtime.

Golden State appeared in control in the third quarter, building a 77-69 lead on consecutive 3-pointers from LJ Cryer. Houston rallied, taking its first lead at 80-79 as Thompson followed his corner 3-pointer with a steal and a transition dunk.

The Warriors’ hot shooting from beyond the arc gave them an early double-digit lead, with Melton’s trey extending it to 22-11 by the 4:27 mark of the opening period. Despite cooling off from long range, Golden State maintained a 30-20 lead entering the second quarter, thanks to 18 points in the paint.

Throughout the second quarter, the Warriors responded to every Houston surge. When the Rockets cut the deficit to three points, Horford and Podziemski nailed 3-pointers. Houston then mounted a 10-0 run, capped by 3-pointers from Josh Okogie and Durant to tie the score at 45-45 with 1:25 left in the half. Two Santos layups in the final minute gave Golden State a 51-47 halftime lead.

-Field Level Media/Reuters