HOUSTON _ The Warriors entered the week an NBA-best 34-6, but lacking signature wins against the league's best competition. Five days later, they're 37-6 with a much more sparkling resume.
After pounding the Cavaliers by 35 on Monday and blasting the Thunder by 21 on Wednesday, the Warriors capped a three-game run of dominance with a 125-108 dismantling of the Rockets on Friday night in Houston. The total margin of victory: 73, against three playoff teams, two of them top-tier.
To many, Houston has emerged as one of the few threats to the Warriors in the Western Conference. Around James Harden, they've compiled a 3-point heavy roster perfectly equipped to run Mike D'Antoni's system. They may not be able to defend the Warriors, but, when scorching from deep, they can score with them.
That wasn't the case on Friday night. Golden State clamped down defensively and the Rockets were way off from 3. James Harden, who entered the night third in the league in made 3s, missed all five of his. Eric Gordon, who entered the night first in the NBA in made 3s, missed all seven of his. As a team, the Rockets went 7-of-35 from deep.
Gordon is no longer the league's leader in made 3s. Steph Curry has reclaimed that mantle. Curry entered the night two behind Gordon. Curry hit five, including two in the game's defining stretch. It came in the third quarter, as it often does for the Warriors.
The Warriors played solid in the first half, leading by five entering the break. But they busted the game open in the third quarter, outscoring the Rockets 37-22 to take a commanding 20-point cushion into the fourth quarter. This season, the Warriors have now outscored opponents by an astounding 250 points in the third quarter. No one is within 70 of that mark.
Curry finished the night with 24 points. Kevin Durant finished with a game-high 32 points on 12-of-19 shooting.
