Warriors get crushed by Rockets in Game 5; Dubs bench showed heart

Golden State has a massive Game 6 at home coming, up 3-2 in the series on Houston.

Well, Dub Nation, let's not sugarcoat this disaster: the Golden State Warriors got straight-up bodyrocked by a frenzied Houston Rockets team that refused to roll over and die in front of their home fans, 131-116. This elimination game wasn't just a loss – it was a public chairshot to Dub Nation’s face that Houston gleefully performed on their home floor.

The Rockets shot an ungodly 69.4% from the field in the first half (25-of-36), including 60% from downtown (9-of-15). They poured in 76 points by halftime, which frankly should be illegal in a playoff setting. As Kerr himself said afterward, "At halftime, their effective field goal [percentage] was 95%. I've never seen that in my life. You're not winning that game."

This game was effectively over by halftime, with bench reserves from Golden State putting forth a spirited effort that low-key threatened to turn it into something resembling a competitive contest down the stretch. That 19-5 run to start the fourth quarter cut the lead to 13 points, briefly sending a ripple of anxiety through Toyota Center.

As I watched Steph Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler observing from the bench in early garbage time, it made me think of how a 3-1 lead seems like a stranglehold. A 3-2 lead? That feels like time to finish strong. But that's only a game away from 3-3 and a red-hot Game 7 that nobody in the Bay Area wants to contemplate right now.

Coach Steve Kerr yanked his starters with 5:50 left in the third quarter, down 29 points. That's when the real entertainment began. Those reserve guys played with their hearts on their sleeves, showing absolutely no respect to the Rockets' desperate starters. The Warriors' bench ended up outscoring the starters, pouring in a whopping 76 points. Those aren't garbage time numbers – that's a statement.

Kerr recognized the importance of that momentum shift: "They forced Houston to bring their starters back," he said. "They set a tone that we're going to need for Game 6. And even though we lost the game, I thought it was crucial that we fought the way we did in the fourth quarter. It was an important finish." Translation: We may have lost the battle, but we planted the seeds for winning the war.

Fred VanVleet, who'd been inconsistent earlier in the series (11.3 points while shooting a brutal 6-for-29 from deep in Games 1-3), erupted for 19 first-half points on his way to 26 for the game. Meanwhile, Jalen Green remains the ultimate boom-or-bust playoff performer. After dropping 38 in Houston's Game 2 win, he reverted to his disappearing act in Games 1, 3, and 4 (scoring just 7, 9, and 8 points while shooting an abysmal 10-for-34).

Green only managed 11 points last night, but was "aggressive early, maybe an improved approach for whatever is left of the series." The Rockets' desperation was palpable as they played "with gusto on every play and stepped up defensively" with their season on the line.

If that wasn't enough spicy content for you, we got treated to a late-game fracas when Golden State's Pat Spencer shoved Houston's resident heel Dillon Brooks across the baseline. Things escalated when Spencer and Alperen Sengun went nose-to-nose before Spencer straight-up head-butted the taller man. Trayce Jackson-Davis joined the party with a two-handed shove to Sengun, and suddenly we had coaches spilling onto the court.

For a game that was functionally over by halftime, this series suddenly has some real bad blood. Perfect timing as we head back to Chase Center.

But a 3-2 lead is better than getting body-rocked by Rudy Gobert and getting eliminated in five, as the Lakers fanbase realized last night. A team with LeBron James and Luka Doncic just got thrown into a dumpster by a 6th seed. The Western Conference is absolutely insane right now.

The Memphis Grizzlies had high hopes coming into this season with a revitalized Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., but they got power-swept out of the playoffs by that machine in Oklahoma City. They didn't win a SINGLE game in the postseason.

Meanwhile, the Pistons are down 3-2 to the Knicks, Clippers are down 3-2 to the Nuggets. Both their seasons could easily end tonight. The playoffs are a cruel beast, unforgiving to all but one team in the end.

This is why even though last night it wasn't the biggest deal that the Warriors couldn't close out the feisty Rockets, the pressure is absolutely on the Dubs to seal the deal Friday night at Chase Center. Close this thing out or risk a potential Game 7 in Houston where anything can happen.

The bench showed they've got some dog in them. Now it's time for the starters to match that energy and finish what they started. Don't call it a comeback... but do call Game 6 absolutely must-see TV.