Warriors vs Rockets: Houston Ends Golden State’s Streak in a Chaotic 115-108 Battle
Introduction
Look, you never want to see a marquee matchup decided by an injury and an ejection. But the Warriors vs Rockets game on November 11, 2026, at Toyota Center gave us exactly that—plus a rookie breakout that nobody saw coming.
Stephen Curry played just six minutes before leaving with right abdominal soreness. Marcus Smart threw a punch and got tossed. And somehow, a Warriors team that had just made NBA history with eight straight wins after a 0-3 start suddenly looked mortal.
Quick Answer: Kevin Durant led Houston with 20 points. Golden State lost Stephen Curry to injury in the first quarter. Houston improved to 9-3; Golden State dropped to 8-4.
Here’s what actually happened, what the numbers say, and why this game matters more than a random November box score.
What Was the Final Score and Stats for Warriors vs Rockets?
Direct Answer: The Rockets won 115-108, snapping Golden State’s eight-game winning streak.
Let’s get the ugly stuff out of the way first. Curry checked out midway through the first quarter with the Warriors trailing 19-10. He never returned. Three points. Six minutes. That was his night.
With Curry gone, Golden State needed somebody—anybody—to step up. Enter Yaxel Lendeborg, the rookie out of Michigan. He dropped 25 points and 10 rebounds, keeping the Warriors within striking distance until the final minutes. Brandin Podziemski added 22 points.
Houston didn’t exactly dominate, either. Kevin Durant scored 20 points. Alperen Şengün finished one assist shy of a triple-double: 19 points, 13 rebounds, 9 assists.
The weirdest stat? Houston shot poorly from deep for stretches but still found enough offense when it mattered. Golden State, without Curry’s gravity, looked lost in half-court sets for long stretches.
Key Takeaway:
- Houston won 115-108 despite Durant’s modest 20-point night.
- Curry played only 6 minutes and scored 3 points.
- Lendeborg’s 25/10 kept Golden State alive—barely.
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yaxel Lendeborg | 25 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Brandin Podziemski | 22 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Draymond Green | 7 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 1 |
| Stephen Curry | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Player | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Durant | 20 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Alperen Şengün | 19 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 1 |
| Amen Thompson | 19 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Fred VanVleet | 18 | 2 | 6 | 3 | 0 |
Why Did Stephen Curry Leave the Game Early?
Direct Answer: Curry exited with right abdominal soreness in the first quarter and did not return.
Here’s the thing about Curry: he entered this game averaging 30.6 points per game, second-best in the NBA. He had just torched the Pelicans for 25 points in only 21 minutes during Golden State’s historic eighth straight win. The man was cooking.
Then, six minutes in, he was gone.
The Warriors haven’t released a detailed timeline for his return. Abdominal strains are tricky—they affect everything from shooting mechanics to lateral movement. Golden State’s training staff will likely be conservative here, especially with a five-game road trip continuing in San Antonio on Friday.
What did Steve Kerr’s offense look like without Curry? Predictable. Houston loaded up on the perimeter, dared Golden State’s role players to beat them off the dribble, and mostly succeeded. The Warriors scored just 20 points in the first quarter—their lowest opening frame during this eight-game stretch.
Key Takeaway:
- Curry’s abdominal soreness is the story of the night for Golden State.
- Without him, the Warriors’ offense stalled early.
- His status for Friday’s game in San Antonio is uncertain.
How Did Marcus Smart Get Ejected?
Direct Answer: Smart threw a punch at Golden State’s Charles Bassey late in the third quarter and received a Flagrant 2 foul and automatic ejection.
This wasn’t a basketball play. With the ball dead and players jockeying for position, Smart and Bassey went face-to-face. Words were exchanged. Then Smart uncorked a right hand that grazed Bassey’s face.
Smart didn’t even wait for the officials. He walked straight to the locker room, knowing exactly what was coming.
Houston was up 85-77 when it happened. The Warriors, suddenly energized by the chaos, ripped off a run. Georges Niang and De’Anthony Melton hit back-to-back threes early in the fourth to cut the lead to 88-85 with about ten minutes left. For a moment, it felt like Golden State might steal one without Curry.
Then Houston answered with an 8-0 run, capped by two Reed Sheppard threes, and that was that.
Look, Smart’s intensity is what makes him valuable. But this? This was a liability. The Rockets survived it because their bench responded, but playoff games can turn on moments like this.
Key Takeaway:
- Smart’s punch earned him an automatic ejection.
- Houston’s bench stabilized the game after Smart left.
- The incident briefly sparked Golden State, but Houston’s response was decisive.
Which Players Stepped Up in the Warriors vs. Rockets Matchup?
Direct Answer: Yaxel Lendeborg (25 points, 10 rebounds) and Amen Thompson (19 points, 15 in the third quarter) were the unexpected difference-makers.
Let’s talk about Lendeborg for a second. The 11th pick in the draft was supposed to be a project. Instead, he’s the early front-runner for Rookie of the Year. When Curry went down, Lendeborg didn’t just fill the scoring void—he attacked it. He hit threes. He crashed the boards. He keyed a 9-2 run late in the first half that tied the game at 49.
On Houston’s side, Amen Thompson’s third quarter was the dagger. Fifteen points in twelve minutes. He was everywhere—cutting baseline, finishing in transition, punishing Golden State’s rotations every time they helped off him.
Şengün deserves a mention too. Nine assists from a center is Nikola Jokić territory. He orchestrated Houston’s offense in the fourth quarter when the Warriors were clawing back.
Key Takeaway:
- Lendeborg’s 25/10 was the best game of his young career.
- Thompson’s 15-point third quarter broke Golden State’s momentum.
- Şengün’s near-triple-double (19/13/9) controlled the pace.
How Does This Result Affect the Warriors vs Rockets Head-to-Head Record?
Direct Answer: Houston’s win ties the season series at 1-1, with both games decided by fewer than 10 points.
The Warriors and Rockets have developed a quiet rivalry over the past two seasons. Last year, Golden State won the season series 2-1, but two of those games were decided by three points or fewer.
This year? Houston looks different. The addition of Durant has given them a closer who can generate offense when Şengün is doubled. And their defense—ranked top-five in the league through the first month—held Golden State to 108 points, well below their season average of 120.4.
The next Warriors vs. Rockets matchup is scheduled for January 2027 in San Francisco. If Curry is healthy and Smart is available, expect another tight one.
Key Takeaway:
- Season series is tied 1-1.
- Four of the last six meetings have been decided by 5 points or fewer.
- The January rematch in San Francisco will be must-watch basketball.
What Does This Loss Mean for Golden State’s Season?
Direct Answer: It’s a wake-up call, but not a panic button—if Curry’s injury is minor.
Golden State just did something no NBA team had ever done: win eight straight games after starting 0-3. That’s not luck. That’s a team figuring itself out in real time.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth: the Warriors are 35-44 in games without Curry over the past three seasons. That’s not a small sample. Without their engine, they’re a play-in team at best.
The good news? The Western Conference is a bloodbath, but it’s early. Golden State has 70 games left. A loss in November to a 9-3 Rockets team—on the road, without your best player, after a historic winning streak—isn’t a crisis.
The bad news? Curry is 38 years old. Abdominal injuries linger. If he misses two weeks, the Warriors could slide from the 3-seed to the 8-seed in a hurry.
Key Takeaway:
- Golden State is 8-4 and still atop the Pacific Division.
- Curry’s health is the single biggest variable in their season.
- The supporting cast proved it can compete, but not win, without him.
Conclusion
This Warriors vs Rockets game was messy, weird, and ultimately forgettable in the standings—unless Curry’s injury lingers.
Houston proved it can win ugly. Durant didn’t need to drop 35. Şengün orchestrated. Thompson exploded. The bench survived Smart’s ejection. That’s what good teams do in November.
Golden State proved something too: even without Curry, even after a chaotic ejection swung momentum, they fought back to within three points in the fourth quarter. Lendeborg looks like a steal. Podziemski is a legit second option.
Bottom Line: Houston won 115-108, Curry got hurt, Smart got tossed, and Golden State’s eight-game streak died in a game that told us more about both teams’ depth than their stars.
What’s your take? Did Smart deserve a suspension on top of the ejection? Will Curry play Friday in San Antonio? Drop a comment—I read every one.
References
- ESPN. (2026, November 11). Rockets 115-108 Warriors (November 11, 2026) Game Recap. https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/401909974
- Houston Chronicle. (2026, November 11). Rockets beat Warriors in wild one that included Marcus Smart throwing a punch. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rockets/article/warriors-game-recap-marcus-smart-steph-curry-22524867.php
- Sporting News. (2026, November 9). Stephen Curry’s Warriors make NBA history with eight straight wins after 0-3 start. https://www.sportingnews.com/ca/nba/golden-state-warriors/news/stephen-currys-warriors-make-nba-history-eight-straight-wins-after-0-3-start/d740be71a398c6807ed80c85
- StatMuse. (2026). Warriors vs Rockets head-to-head record this season. https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/warriors-vs-rockets-head-to-head-record-this-season
- NBA.com. (2026, November 11). Golden State Warriors vs Houston Rockets November 11, 2026 Box Scores. https://www.nba.com/game/gsw-vs-hou-0022600225/box-score
