Minus Butler, Curry, Dubs get tough in pivotal win

SAN FRANCISCO -- Draymond Green got a bargain and threw the shot up to a streaking Gary Payton II, who threw down a reverse dunk to enactment the finishing touches connected Game 3 against the Houston Rockets connected Saturday night.

Jimmy Butler stood and clapped successful support arsenic Chase Center roared. Without Butler, the Golden State Warriors delivered possibly their gutsiest show of the play successful a 104-93 triumph to instrumentality a 2-1 pb successful a best-of-seven bid connected Saturday.

"We had Jimmy's backmost portion helium was out," said Payton, who came disconnected the seat and scored 16 points. "Hopefully we get Jimmy backmost for Game 4, and we get backmost to our regular scheduled program."

The play entering Game 3 was whether Butler would beryllium capable to play pursuing a nasty autumn helium took successful the archetypal 4th of Wednesday's Game 2 that resulted successful a pelvic and heavy gluteal musculus contusion. Butler was ruled retired earlier the game, giving the prima 2 much days to heal earlier Game 4 connected Monday. Head manager Steve Kerr said Butler is day-to-day.

Without Butler, the Warriors altered their lineup, starting Jonathan Kuminga and Quinten Post. Houston jumped retired to a 13-point pb successful the 2nd 4th arsenic Golden State struggled to score.

But Stephen Curry, playing against Houston's carnal defence and treble teams, got much assertive and scored 25 of his 36 points implicit the 2nd and 3rd quarters. Curry deed 9-of-13 shots successful that agelong to assistance Golden State spell into the 4th down 71-69.

"He's Steph Curry," Kerr said. "He's 1 overmuch top players of each time. He's 37. He's 1 of the astir well-conditioned athletes I've ever seen successful my life. To play 41 minutes against that benignant of defense, to person a dilatory commencement and past find his rhythm, which we person seen him bash countless times implicit the years, to deed large shots, to lone crook it implicit doubly against that benignant of pressure, helium was brilliant."

Even with Butler connected the sideline, Curry had assistance erstwhile helium needed it. Buddy Hield deed 5 3s and scored 17 points. And successful the 4th quarter, Curry scored 9 points, but Payton took vantage of the added antiaircraft attraction Houston threw astatine Curry. Either scoring arsenic a roller oregon hitting an unfastened 3 from the corner, Payton scored 9 consecutive points and past assisted Curry connected a 3 to propulsion Golden State up 95-86 with 3:05 left.

The Rockets double-teamed Curry connected 27 plays, and the Warriors averaged 1.22 points per play connected those treble teams successful Game 3, according to ESPN Research.

"We prepared arsenic if helium was going to play," Houston constituent defender Fred VanVleet said of Butler. "We were acceptable to go. You can't play that crippled of who is playing, who is not playing. Every accidental you don't triumph a crippled you consciousness similar you could triumph is simply a missed opportunity. Obviously, Jimmy adds different furniture to that due to the fact that they are a antithetic squad without him.

"But Gary Payton stepped up tonight. Both the guys disconnected the seat played cardinal minutes. ... We knew they were going to respond with a feline retired arsenic immoderate bully squad would. There's nary scrubs successful the playoffs close now."

After scoring 38 points successful Houston's Game 2 win, Jalen Green finished with 9 points, six rebounds and 5 assists. Alperen Sengun led Houston with 15 points and 11 rebounds, and Dillon Brooks scored 13 points earlier fouling out.

The Rockets' vexation boiled implicit aft the game, arsenic Jalen Green shouted words astatine Draymond Green. The Warriors powerfulness guardant downplayed the incident, saying the crippled was over.

"Just talking," Jalen Green said of his altercation with Draymond Green. "Steph had a bully game. That's the crushed they won. It was conscionable talking. You know, helium (Draymond Green) can't truly bash overmuch of thing else. So talking is his lone way."

Afterward, Butler posted connected his Instagram leafage a representation of the Batman's Bat signal, but successful spot of the Batman logo was Curry's signature Under Armour logo. Butler has nicknamed Curry arsenic Batman and said that helium is Robin.

"thanks Batman and team, excluding buddy," wrote Butler, who loves to springiness Hield a pugnacious time.

Curry, who has scored 31 and 36 points successful Golden State's 2 wins this series, said helium appreciated Butler's post, adding that helium conscionable hopes helium has Butler by his broadside connected Monday.

"I conscionable cognize that I request to play astatine a precocious level for america to win," Curry said. "And truthful does helium and truthful does Draymond and truthful does everybody. Whatever you privation to telephone me, I'll clasp it and hopefully it keeps happening."

ESPN's Michael C. Wright contributed to this report.