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Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski (2) shoots as Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun defends during the second half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 5, 2026, in Houston. (AP Photo\/Eric Christian Smith)<\/p>\n
Half of the 10 Warriors in uniform were once signed to two-way contracts, four of them played in the G League at some point this season and three were actively playing on two-way deals.<\/p>\n
They still managed to steal one from one of the Western Conference\u2019s top teams.<\/p>\n
Brandin Podziemski scored 26 points and delivered the key buckets late in overtime as an undermanned Golden State squad went into Houston on Thursday and outlasted the Rockets, 115-113.<\/p>\n
![\"Warriors](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/d588319f6f1cc13df38454d98ab692a9.jpeg\"\/)
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Warriors guard De\u2019Anthony Melton (left) hugs Al Horford after making a basket against the Rockets during overtime Thursday in Houston. (AP Photo\/Eric Christian Smith) AP<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be that short-handed, on the road, against a great team and to have the performance, I\u2019m really proud of the guys,\u201d Warriors coach Steve Kerr said.<\/p>\n
All five Warriors starters scored in double figures, and G League call-up LJ Cryer drained four 3-pointers off the bench, as Golden State got the last laugh in a game that was tied eight times and featured a dozen lead changes.<\/p>\n
For the second straight game, the Warriors\u2019 reserves jumped to a double-digit lead before halftime and allowed it to slip away. But this time, Golden State didn\u2019t let the game get away.<\/p>\n
What it means<\/p>\n
The Warriors<\/a> (32-30) avoided a third straight loss and pulled out a win in a game that many had written off.<\/p>\n Rockets forward Kevin Durant dribbles as Warriors forward Draymond Green defends Thursday in Houston. (AP Photo\/Eric Christian Smith) AP<\/p>\n Turning point<\/p>\n Podziemski drained a 3, grabbed a defensive rebound and then blew past Kevin Durant in the sequence that allowed the Warriors<\/a> to escape with the unlikeliest of wins.<\/p>\n The score was tied at 106 midway through the overtime period when Podziemski got free around a screen and drained his fourth 3-pointer to give Golden State what turned out to be the decisive lead.<\/p>\n He put them up by five by driving past Durant, who looked back and found no help defense.<\/p>\n The Warriors sent Durant to the foul line with the opportunity to tie the score down 113-110 with 30 seconds left, but his last free throw clanked off the rim and Draymond Green secured the rebound.<\/p>\n MVP: Warriors\u2019 starting backcourt<\/p>\n The combination of Podziemski and De\u2019Anthony Melton started alongside each other for the first time Monday against the Clippers. In their second game sharing the starting lineup, they provided about as good of a one-two scoring punch the Warriors could ask for without Steph Curry<\/a>, Moses Moody, Will Richard or Gary Payton II.<\/p>\n \u201cI thought that might\u2019ve been Brandin\u2019s best game of the year,\u201d Kerr said.<\/p>\n While Reed Shepherd lit up the Warriors for a game-high 30 points, Golden State\u2019s guards took full advantage of his defensive shortcomings. Melton paced the Warriors with 10 of his 23 points coming in the first half, while Podziemski shouldered the load after halftime with all but five of his 26 points.<\/p>\n Stat of the game: 91<\/p>\n That\u2019s the number of points, cumulatively, on a per-game basis the Warriors were missing against the Rockets. Altogether the Warriors also had to make up 21 rebounds and 16.8 assists between all seven absences (Curry, Butler, Porzingis, Moody, Richard, Payton, Seth Curry).<\/p>\n Up next<\/p>\n![\"Rockets](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/eb776563398c78f205571f69d538ea6c.jpeg\"\/)
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