In a tense, back-and-forth battle at Toyota Center on Thursday night, the Golden State Warriors (32-30) outlasted the Houston Rockets (38-23) in overtime, securing a 115-113 victory that felt like a playoff preview. The win was especially sweet given the Warriors’ shorthanded status, and it came against a Rockets team led by Kevin Durant, who delivered yet another elite performance: 23 points (8-of-16 FG, 3-of-5 3PT), 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block in 41 minutes.
Postgame, Draymond Green—who finished with 10 points, 5 rebounds, 8 assists, and 1 steal in 35 minutes—took time to praise his former teammate and long-time rival:
“I enjoy competing against greats… Kevin is one of the all-time greats. Top five NBA basketball player in the history of this game… I’m always excited for it,” Green told Sam Gordon of The San Francisco Chronicle.
The mutual respect was evident. At 37, Durant remains one of the league’s most unstoppable scorers, averaging 26.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 4.5 assists on 51.0% field goal shooting and 40.4% from three across 58 games this season. As of March 5 (per Underdog NBA), Durant ranks fifth all-time in 30-point games with 433, trailing only LeBron James (575), Michael Jordan (562), Wilt Chamberlain (516), and Karl Malone (435). His efficiency and scoring volume at this age continue to defy Father Time.
Green, meanwhile, showed why he’s still a future Hall of Famer at 36. His stat line may look modest, but his impact was massive—defensive anchor, playmaker, and emotional leader in a game the Warriors won without Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler, and Kristaps Porzingis. Green’s averages sit at 8.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 5.2 assists on 41.1% FG and 31.5% from three in 51 games, but his intangibles remain irreplaceable.
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The locker room celebration was electric, per ESPN’s Nick Friedell:
“If that wasn’t the happiest Warriors locker room of the year — it was close. Players and coaches were smiling wide. Draymond said Steph texted him and was using a lot of exclamation points. Kerr sounded like a proud father and compared it to a playoff win.”
This victory marked the Warriors’ first against Houston since their first-round playoff series win over the Rockets in 2025. The teams will rematch on April 5 in San Francisco, adding another layer of intrigue to what’s already shaping up as a potential postseason preview.
Golden State improves to 32-30, staying in the eighth seed in the loaded West. Houston drops to 38-23 but remains fourth, still very much in the homecourt conversation. Both teams know the stakes are rising as the final stretch approaches.
Dub Nation, Draymond calling KD a top-5 all-time player after beating him—respect. Does this win give the Warriors real momentum heading into OKC on Saturday? And how do you feel about Green’s continued leadership at 36? Drop your thoughts below—this rivalry still has juice!