In a dramatic return after a nine-week injury absence, Stephen Curry scored 29 points for the Golden State Warriors, but the Houston Rockets secured a narrow 117-116 victory in San Francisco on Wednesday night.
The game marked Curry's first appearance since mid-January, and the two-time MVP showed flashes of his signature brilliance, hitting several deep three-pointers and orchestrating the Warriors' offense. However, Houston's balanced attack and clutch late-game execution proved decisive in the final moments.
"It felt great to be back out there competing," Curry said after the game. "Obviously, we wanted the win, but we'll build from this and keep moving forward."
The Warriors led by as many as eight points in the third quarter, but the Rockets mounted a sustained comeback in the fourth, with key contributions from their bench and timely defensive stops. The final possession saw Golden State with a chance to win, but a contested shot at the buzzer rimmed out.
With the loss, the Warriors' playoff positioning becomes more precarious in the tightly contested Western Conference, while Houston continues its push for a play-in tournament spot. Curry's return provides a significant boost for Golden State as they enter the final stretch of the regular season.