Rockets vs. Warriors Takeaways: Houston Extends Losing Streak Post All-Star Break

The Houston Rockets dropped their first game post All-Star break in a 116-101 loss to the Warriors, Klay Thompson scored 42 points with a dozen made triples.

The Houston Rockets (13-46) resumed their 2022-23 campaign Friday night in a 116-101 loss to the Golden State Warriors (30-30). Here are three takeaways from the Rockets' first game post All-Star break.

TyTy Washington Jr. shined in his first career start:

Before the Rockets left for the All-Star break, coach Stephen Silas revealed he could alter the starting lineup, especially considering the absence of his starting backcourt of Jalen Green and Kevin Porter Jr.

Against the Warriors, Silas inserted TyTy Washington Jr. into the starting lineup. His decision led to the rookie prospect from Kentucky having an impressive outing inside the Chase Center.

He finished with 15 points (5-12 FG, 3-6 3PT), four assists, and two steals. But Silas was more impressed by Washington's ability to handle the pressure of being a floor general, directing traffic, and getting the team into their offensive sets.

"I am excited for him," Silas said. "He played a steady game. It was hard to tell whether it was his first game starting. I am excited to see what he can become. He can play pick-and-roll. He can get into the paint and shoot his floaters. I have a bunch of confidence in him."

Klay Thompson destroyed the Rockets for the second consecutive game:

Klay Thompson one-up his early season performance against the Rockets. He led the Warriors' 3-point dominance with a team-high 12 triples en route to a 42-point performance.

"He is one of the best shooters in the history of the NBA," Silas said. "When he gets it going, he has done this a lot — not just against us."

Thompson's play marked the second game he made 10 or more 3-pointers against the Rockets this season. He drilled 10 3-pointers on Nov. 20 in a win over Houston, where he recorded 41 points. 

The Warriors annihilated the Rockets from behind the arc as a whole:

Thompson made over half of the Warriors' 3-point field goals, but the future Hall-of-Famer wasn't alone. The Rockets allowed Golden State to make 26 triples on the night.

In addition to Thompson, the Warriors received an additional boost from Donte DiVincenzo, who added five threes for 15 points. Patrick Baldwin Jr. came off the bench and added a trio of 3's for 11 points.

Houston struggled to match Golden State's 3-point shooting barrage. They finished the night shooting 11-of-35.

Best performance:

K.J. Martin led the Rockets in scoring in the loss to the Warriors. He provided Houston with great production on both ends with 21 points on 7-of-12 shooting, eight rebounds, two blocks and a steal.

Worst performance:

With the Warriors playing most of the night out of the perimeter, Alperen Sengun was unplayable due to his inability to switch and close out on shooters. He struggled greatly on the defensive end.

When the Rockets cut down their 19-point deficit to nine points, Silas subbed Sengun out late in the third quarter. He remained on the bench for the rest of the night.

Sengun finished the game with nine rebounds, eight assists and five points on 2-of-10 shooting. But his defense made him a major liability on the court. 

Final Words:

"I told the team after the game, 'when you play this team, you have to be on it when it comes to the game plan.' It takes playing this team year after year, game after game to get familiar with their play. But ours are so young, they are not familiar with all the nuances that comes playing this team." — Silas

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You can follow Coty M. Davis on Twitter at @CotyDavis_24

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