Smart Ejected, Curry Hurt as Rockets Snap Warriors’ Eight-Game Streak

The Houston Rockets ended Golden State’s eight-game winning streak with a 115-108 victory, but the scoreboard was only part of the story. Stephen Curry exited early with an abdominal injury, and Marcus Smart was ejected for punching Charles Bassey in a chaotic Wednesday night.

Rockets Snap the Warriors’ Winning Run

Houston arrived to face the hottest team in the league and left with a statement win. The Warriors had not won this many games in a row since 2022, and the Rockets brought that run to a halt.

Golden State was held well below its season scoring average of 120.4 points per game. The Warriors finished with 108.

Durant, Sengun and Thompson Lead the Way

Kevin Durant paced Houston with 20 points. Alperen Sengun added 19, and Amen Thompson matched him with 19 of his own.

The balanced scoring proved too much for a Warriors side that lost its franchise star early.

Curry Injury Casts a Shadow Over Golden State

The biggest turning point came in the first quarter. Curry left with right abdominal soreness and never returned.

He had managed just three points before exiting. Entering the night, he ranked second in the NBA at 30.6 points per game, so his absence was felt immediately.

Kerr: “Concern Is High”

Curry was due to undergo an MRI after the game. Warriors coach Steve Kerr did not hide his worry.

“Concern is high,” Kerr said. “But I have no idea the extent.”

The timing is awkward for Golden State, which is already thin. Jimmy Butler and Moses Moody are out with knee injuries. Kristaps Porziņģis has stepped away from basketball over an undisclosed health issue.

Smart Ejected After Punching Bassey

Late in the third quarter, tempers boiled over. Houston’s Marcus Smart threw a punch that appeared to lightly strike Golden State’s Charles Bassey on the nose.

Two Warriors pushed Smart away, and an official grabbed Bassey around the waist to pull him clear. Smart headed straight for the locker room without waiting for a ruling.

After a review, he was assessed a Flagrant 2 foul and ejected before play resumed. It was unclear what started the altercation.

Bassey: “Fake Toughness”

Bassey had plenty to say afterward. He claimed Smart had been playing dirty since the first half.

“I was trying to set a screen [and] he grabbed my knee. He was playing dirty,” Bassey said. He added that Smart “just swung” and called it “fake toughness.”

Bassey also suggested Smart was not interested in basketball. “I think he was trying to get himself out of the game,” he said.

Warriors Show Depth Without Their Star

Even in defeat, Golden State found positives. Yaxel Lendeborg led the way with 25 points and 10 rebounds. Brandin Podziemski added 22.

Draymond Green believes this group is better equipped to handle Curry’s absence than last season’s team, which struggled badly when he missed significant time.

“The spirit of this team is better,” Green said. “We’re more certain of who we are, what makes us a good team.”

He pointed to Lendeborg as a player who can create an advantage, and to Podziemski’s improved play. “It puts us in a better position,” Green said.

What Comes Next

The Warriors sit at 8-4 despite the injury toll. All eyes now turn to Curry’s MRI results, which will shape the near-term outlook.

The league may also take a closer look at the Smart incident after the Flagrant 2 ejection. For Houston, the win is a big one, even if the late drama grabbed the headlines.