Warriors smothered by Rockets, win streak snapped in chippy loss

SAN FRANCISCO Facing a Houston lineup stocked with skyscraping centers and wings with enough athleticism to touch the clouds Golden State s flowing offense and free-wheeling sets were ground-bound in Sunday night s - loss in Chase Center that featured Draymond Green earning both a technical and flagrant foul After scoring points over his last three games Steph Curry made just one of his field goal attempts and scored only three points Brandin Podziemski put in points and Buddy Hield and Gary Payton combined to points off the bench Houston entered the meeting leading the league in rebounding rebounds per night and that size disadvantage was obvious Golden State was outscored - in the paint by a Rockets front line that featured -foot- tank Alperen Sengun points and the freakishly athletic duo of Jalen Green and San Leandro native Amen Thompson in the backcourt The Warriors also had turnovers The Warriors - dropped into a four-way tie with No Minnesota - No LA Clippers and No Memphis - Following a second quarter that saw Draymond Green earn his th technical foul after a shoving and jawing match with Sengun Golden State had an equally-rough start of the third where Green was called for a flagrant foul on the same Rockets big man Golden State which trailed just - at halftime kept things close with the younger and more athletic Rockets for a while with Hield s shooting and keeping the Warriors within striking distance Podziemski took a defensive rebound coast-to-coast to cut the deficit to - with nine minutes left but Jabari Smith instantly answered with an uncontested jam after getting a pass in the dunker s spot Houston pulled away from there After Green was hit with his second quarter technical foul Jalen Green missed the free throw which seemed to delight Draymond Green The Warriors forward was less enthused when he was called for a foul feet from the basket with left in the half on a VanVleet halfcourt shot Rockets coach Ime Udoka walked through the Warriors as they left the court prompting Curry to share a insufficient words with him That animosity did not dissipate during the -minute intermission With left in the third quarter Green was called for a flagrant foul after he hit Sengun in the face with an elbow Coach Steve Kerr subbed Green out of the meeting following the affair Golden State plays at Phoenix on Tuesday