Rockets edge Warriors 117-116 as Curry returns
Rockets beat Warriors 117-116 on April 5, 2026, as Stephen Curry returned from injury; Houston won on Sengun’s late basket.
Mehmet Şahinoğlu ·
The Houston Rockets beat the Golden State Warriors 117-116 in San Francisco on Sunday, April 5, 2026, in a one-point finish that came in Stephen Curry’s first game back after a two-month injury absence. The result extended Houston’s winning streak and tightened the Western Conference race near the top of the standings.
Alperen Sengun delivered the decisive play for Houston, scoring a go-ahead basket with 11.1 seconds remaining. Sengun finished with 24 points, helping the Rockets close out a game that stayed within a single possession late.
Kevin Durant, described as a former Warriors player, led Houston with a game-high 31 points and added eight assists and eight rebounds. His production anchored the Rockets’ offense across the night and provided a steady counter to Golden State’s late push.
Curry returned to the court for the first time since January 30 and was greeted with a standing ovation, officials said. In 26 minutes, he scored 29 points on 11 of 21 shooting, including 5 of 10 from three-point range. Despite the strong scoring line, he missed a potential game-winning attempt under pressure in the final seconds.
Brandin Podziemski contributed 18 points for the Warriors, who fell to 36-42 with the loss. Golden State is expected to secure the 10th seed in the Western Conference play-in tournament, according to the report, placing added weight on late-season results as teams position for postseason entry.
For Houston, the win marked a sixth straight victory and lifted the Rockets to 49-29. The Rockets are within one game of the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver Nuggets in the race for third place in the Western Conference, keeping the standings tight as the regular season approaches its final stretch.
The closing sequence also underscored the uncertainty that can define late-season games: a single possession decided the outcome, and Curry’s return did not immediately translate into a win. With Houston climbing and Golden State tracking toward the play-in line, the next set of results will continue to shape seeding scenarios across the conference.