NBA -- Warriors start title defense with 104-78 rout over Rockets
By Jason Aniel
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 17 Apr 2016
OAKLAND ?The top-ranked Golden State Warriors opened their NBA title defense with a dominating 104-78 romp over the Houston Rockets on Sunday afternoon at the Oracle Arena.
Patrick Beverley of the eight-seeded Rockets played physical on Steph Curry but the reigning NBA MVP still sizzled with 24 points. Curry, however, tweaked his ankle in the first half and was sidelined the rest of the way, logging just 19 minutes and 49 seconds on the floor.
Without Curry, whose status for Game 2 is questionable, the rest of the Warriors went to work. Klay Thompson pumped in 16 points while Draymond Green had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Marreese Speights added 12 more points for the Warriors, who shot 39 of 91 from the field and 10 of 25 from 3-point range.
James Harden led the Rockets with 17 points but the All-Star guard was held to just 7-of-19 from the field and did not attempt a free throw. Dwight Howard finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds but no other Rocket scored in double figures.
"You lose the MVP of the NBA it definitely changes your team. There's some concern," Green told NBA.com after the Warriors took a 1-0 lead.
Game 2 returns Monday night at the Oracle Arena.
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