HOUSTON (AP) 鈥� The Golden State Warriors struggled on both ends of the court Wednesday night to squander a chance to close out their first-round playoff series against the Houston Rockets.
Things got away from them quickly . Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and the rest of Golden State鈥檚 starters spent most of the second half watching from the bench after coach Steve Kerr inserted his reserves with about five minutes left in the third quarter and Houston up by 29.
Kerr shouldered the blame for the poor performance that allowed Houston to move the best-of-seven series to 3-2.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 have them ready to play, clearly,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e committed three fouls in the first two minutes of the game and I think they were 13 for 13 from the line after the first quarter.
鈥淲e can鈥檛 come out with that lack of defensive focus and energy and expect to beat a great team on their home floor in a close-out game,鈥� he continued. 鈥淭hey took it to us, they were awesome tonight and we鈥檝e got to be better.鈥�
He said Houston鈥檚 success on offense early made it difficult for Golden State to get anything going.
鈥淲e were out of sorts from the beginning, especially defensively, and I think that carried over to our offense,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to play offensively when you鈥檙e taking the ball out of the net every single play.鈥�
It was clear to Kerr at halftime that this was not going to be the Warriors' night.
鈥淚 think at halftime, their effective field goal percentage was 95%,鈥� he said. 鈥淚鈥檝e never seen that in my life. You鈥檙e not winning that game.鈥�
Butler managed just eight points in 25 minutes on 2-of-10 shooting after combining for 52 points in the two full games he鈥檇 played in this series.
Curry was 4 of 12 for 13 points after scoring more than 30 points in two of the first four games to move the Warriors within a game of clinching the series.
Curry had his right thumb wrapped during the game and had a bag of ice taped on it afterward. It appeared to be swollen in a picture circulating online of him walking to the team plane.
Asked about the state of his thumb, he answered with one word.
鈥淐old,鈥� he said.
When pressed, he provided a few more details.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 even know how to answer it,鈥� he said. 鈥淪omething you are dealing with and keep it moving as long as I can play. I鈥檝e got it wrapped for a reason.鈥�
He was emphatic when asked if it was impacting his game.
鈥淣o,鈥� he said. 鈥淣one. No.鈥�
Houston鈥檚 Dillon Brooks was asked about the Golden State broadcast team suggesting that he鈥檚 targeting Curry鈥檚 thumb by swiping at it.
鈥淚f I had an injured ankle, I would attack that ankle every single time,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o, whatever they鈥檙e saying on the broadcast, they can keep saying it.鈥�
Kerr praised his backups for bringing an energy the team will need to rediscover in Game 6, which is Friday night in San Francisco.
Reserve Moses Moody led the Warriors with 25 points. Golden State鈥檚 76 bench points were the most in a playoff game for the franchise since 1970-71, when starters began being tracked.
鈥淗ouston was great and they took it to us right away,鈥� Kerr said. 鈥淏ut like I said, it was an important finish.鈥�
___
AP NBA:
Kristie Rieken, The Associated Press
