Rockets Edge Warriors 117-116 in Thrilling April 2026 Showdown
Houston held off Golden State 117-116 in San Francisco on Sunday night. The finish came after a frantic final minute.
Final sequence and decisive plays
Gary Payton II gave Golden State a late lead with a basket after a goaltend call on Amen Thompson. Kevin Durant responded on the next possession. He drove and fed Alperen Sengun for a layup with 11 seconds left.
Stephen Curry missed a long, straightaway 3 in the closing seconds. The Rockets edge Warriors 117-116 in a dramatic April 2026 showdown that hinged on those final plays.
Key performers
Kevin Durant finished with 31 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. He also hit a big 3-pointer with 2:10 remaining.
Alperen Sengun scored 24 points and converted the go-ahead layup. Jabari Smith Jr. added 23 points and nine rebounds for Houston.
Amen Thompson contributed 18 points and seven assists. Gary Payton II paced Golden State down the stretch.
Stephen Curry returned after a long absence. He scored 29 points on 11-for-21 shooting in 26 minutes.
Curry’s return and historic brother moment
Curry was making his first game appearance since Jan. 30 against Detroit. He had missed 27 straight games with a right knee injury.
He came off the bench, his first reserve appearance in a regular-season game since 2012. When he re-entered in the second quarter, he and Seth Curry shared the floor.
That marked the first time two brothers played together in a Warriors regular-season game, according to Elias.
Physical moments and momentum shifts
Tensions flared midway through the second quarter. Draymond Green and Jabari Smith Jr. exchanged words and had to be separated.
The game featured several lead changes in the final minutes. Durant’s late miss at 38 seconds led to Green finding Payton for a cutting basket before the Rockets’ final response.
What’s next
Houston heads to Phoenix on Tuesday night. Golden State returns home to host Sacramento that same night.
| Player | Points | Rebounds | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kevin Durant | 31 | 8 | 8 |
| Alperen Sengun | 24 | – | – |
| Jabari Smith Jr. | 23 | 9 | – |
| Stephen Curry | 29 | – | – |
For coverage and analysis, Filmogaz.com will follow both teams through the rest of the week.
