Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr addressed the team’s 104-100 defeat to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday at Chase Center, citing injuries and turnovers as key factors in the loss.
Kerr confirmed Stephen Curry suffered a quad contusion in the fourth quarter and will undergo an MRI. “When Steph has to miss, it obviously changes everything—rotations, who we play through,” Kerr said.
The game shifted late in the third quarter when the Warriors, leading by 12, began committing turnovers and fouls, allowing Houston to capitalize. Kerr noted, “We just kept giving them easy points… it never felt like we had any rhythm.”
Reed Sheppard led the Rockets with a career-high 31 points, while Alperen Sengun added 16 points, six rebounds, and six assists, exploiting Golden State’s defensive lapses. Kerr acknowledged Sheppard’s performance, saying, “That’s not the story… he played an amazing game.”
Golden State’s second unit struggled to generate offense, prompting Kerr to insert Pat Spencer at the start of the fourth quarter. He added, “Pat has given us good minutes off the bench, but that group just couldn’t get anything going tonight.”
Turnovers proved costly, with Golden State committing 16 miscues that led to 22 Houston points. “We’re 9-1 when we win the turnover battle, 1-9 when we don’t,” Kerr emphasized.
Will Richard earned praise for his performance, contributing 18 points and playing with confidence. Kerr described him as “in the right spot at the right time… makes the game easier for everybody else.”
Draymond Green returned after missing the previous game, tallying 12 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, while Jimmy Butler scored 21 points. Kerr highlighted Green’s defensive versatility against Sengun, calling his effort “just awesome.”
Injuries also impacted Golden State beyond Curry, with Gary Payton II hurting his ankle. Kerr said, “Gary’s injury hurt, but it’s not the story… we’ll see what happens with the MRI.”
Despite the loss, Kerr maintained faith in his roster. “We have the potential for much more… it’s my job to help these guys find rhythm, separation, confidence,” he said, pointing to continuity from veteran players and the team’s long-term potential.
The Warriors fall to 10-10 and will host the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, while Houston improves to 7-1 over its last eight games and begins a road trip at Utah this Sunday.
