Golden State Warriors: 3 takeaways from Game 2 victory vs. Rockets

In a 115-109 win in Game 2 over the Houston Rockets, the Golden State Warriors took a commanding 2-0 lead in their second round series of the 2019 NBA Playoffs.

Heading into this Game 2 battle, the main focus of the conversation was on neither the Golden State Warriors nor the Houston Rockets. Instead, it was the referees and their never-ending battle with the players — specifically on these teams — that was a hot topic prior to tip-off.

The two teams were separated by just a single free throw attempt in favor of Houston on Tuesday night, so it’s hard to imagine the officiating being such a point of focus in the coming days. It was everything else that helped the Dubs defend home court with a 115-109 victory in Game 2.

It was a phenomenal all-around offensive performance for the Dubs, one in which they never trailed and all five starters scored in double-figures. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson combined for 41 despite the former suffering a dislocated left middle finger early in the contest. Kevin Durant tied a game-high with 29 points.

James Harden shot much better than in Game 1, going 9-of-19 from the field with 29 points of his own. A hit to the eyes midway through the first frame knocked him out until about the seven-minute mark of the second quarter. After a no-show in Game 1, Clint Capela played much better with 14 points and 10 rebounds in 32 minutes.

Golden State did what it was supposed to do by winning both games at home. Moving onto Houston is where this series will start to get interesting. If the Warriors can replicate the level of play they displayed so far, they’ll have a chance to end this matchup far earlier than nearly everyone expected.