Stephen Curry delivered a vintage performance, pouring in a game-high 36 points as the Golden State Warriors overcame the absence of injured star Jimmy Butler III to defeat the visiting Houston Rockets 104-93 on Saturday night. The crucial Game 3 victory gives the Warriors a 2-1 lead in their tense NBA Western Conference first-round playoff series.

Despite learning just before tip-off that Butler would be sidelined with a glute contusion suffered in Game 2, the Warriors found contributions from up and down the roster. Gary Payton II provided an unexpected offensive explosion, scoring nine of his postseason career-high 16 points during a decisive late-game stretch. Buddy Hield was lethal from deep, hitting five three-pointers for the majority of his 17 points. Rookie Quinten Post, elevated into his first playoff start, anchored the defense and grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

“This series, no game is going to be pretty,” Curry stated post-game on the ABC broadcast. “You just kinda have to grind it out… Everybody just stepped up and played for Jimmy. Hopefully, he’s back soon.”

The Warriors endured a sluggish start, managing only 18 points in the first quarter. However, a 9-0 run to close the second quarter cut the Rockets’ lead to 49-46 at halftime, setting the stage for a back-and-forth second half.

Houston held a slim 84-83 advantage after a Dillon Brooks three-pointer with 5:47 left in regulation. That’s when Payton II, who went scoreless in Game 2, dramatically seized control. Watched by his Hall of Fame father, Payton scored nine consecutive points – hitting two layups, a crucial three-pointer, and a dunk – propelling Golden State to a 92-86 lead with just 3:42 remaining.

“Everybody has confidence. That’s the beauty of our team,” Curry commented on Payton’s heroics. “Gary was unbelievable – taking advantage of the double-teams up top, getting into the paint, finishing at the rim, the big three in the corner, obviously the defence… He knows what it takes.”

Curry, marking his 60th career 30-point playoff game, added his fifth three-pointer and seven rebounds alongside a game-high nine assists. He and Hield combined for 10 threes, helping the Warriors outscore the Rockets 42-33 from beyond the arc. Draymond Green added a typically versatile line with 7 points, eight rebounds, four assists, two steals, and three blocks, while Brandin Podziemski chipped in 10 points.

For the second-seeded Rockets, Fred VanVleet led the scoring with 17 points. Alperen Sengun contributed a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Brooks finished with 13 points, while Jabari Smith Jr. (12), Amen Thompson (11), and Jalen Green (9 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists) also scored in double figures.

“We’re not going to hold him [Curry] to 3 points every time we play him. We have to understand that,” VanVleet acknowledged. “He’s one of the all-time greats. I thought our coverages were a little slow tonight.”

The seventh-seeded Warriors will look to defend home court again and take a commanding 3-1 series lead in Game 4 on Monday.

Around the NBA Playoffs: Buzzer-Beaters and Sweeps

Saturday night saw other dramatic playoff action. The Denver Nuggets stunned the Los Angeles Clippers 101-99, thanks to an Aaron Gordon put-back dunk precisely at the final buzzer off a Nikola Jokic missed three-pointer. The incredible finish, confirmed after review, ties their Western Conference series at 2-2. Jokic dominated with 36 points and 21 rebounds for Denver.

“You could say it was a lucky play, but Aaron is a big athletic man,” said Nuggets interim coach David Adelman. “We did what we came here to do, and that was get home-court advantage back,” Gordon added.

Earlier, the Oklahoma City Thunder became the first team to advance to the second round, completing a 4-0 sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies with a narrow 117-115 victory, powered by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s 38 points. In the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers pushed the Miami Heat to the brink of elimination, taking a 3-0 series lead with a dominant 124-87 road win.