Honestly, if you were watching the first half of game 6 warriors vs rockets back in May 2019, you probably thought the Golden State dynasty was finally hitting a wall. No Kevin Durant. A hostile Houston crowd screaming for blood. And Stephen Curry? He looked like a shell of himself.
Zero points.
That wasn't a typo. Steph went into the locker room at halftime with a big fat goose egg on the scoreboard. He was 0-for-5 from the field and plagued by foul trouble. Usually, when your best player forgets how to score in an elimination game on the road, you’re booking flights to Cancun. But the 2019 Western Conference Semifinals had a different script.
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Why Game 6 Warriors vs Rockets Defined a Dynasty
People forget how much pressure was on the Rockets in this spot. They had spent years—literally years—building a roster specifically designed to kill the Warriors. They had James Harden in his prime, Chris Paul’s veteran savvy, and PJ Tucker playing like a man possessed. When Kevin Durant went down with a calf strain in Game 5, the door wasn't just open for Houston; it was off the hinges.
The Warriors showed up to the Toyota Center as seven-point underdogs. That's a massive spread for a defending champ. Without KD’s 30+ points per night, everyone assumed the "Strength in Numbers" era was a myth and the Rockets would force a Game 7.
Klay Thompson kept the lights on
While Steph was struggling to stay on the floor, Klay Thompson was doing Klay Thompson things. He dropped 21 points in the first half alone. He hit five triples before the break, basically keeping the Warriors' head above water. Without Klay’s first-half explosion, Houston would have been up by 20. Instead, it was tied at 57-57.
Klay ended the night with 27 points. He hit the dagger three with about 36 seconds left that essentially ended the Rockets' season. It was a classic "Game 6 Klay" performance, but it’s often overshadowed by what his backcourt partner did in the final 24 minutes.
The 33-Point Second Half Explosion
The second half of game 6 warriors vs rockets is one of those "where were you" moments for NBA fans.
Steph came out of the locker room and looked like he’d been possessed by a scoring demon. He didn’t just find his rhythm; he demolished the Rockets' defense. He dropped 10 points in the third quarter to get his feet wet. Then, in the fourth, he went absolutely nuclear.
23 points. In one quarter.
He was hunting PJ Tucker. He was pulling up from the logo. He was finishing at the rim through contact. It was a reminder that even when the Warriors looked vulnerable, they still had the greatest shooter to ever live. By the time the final buzzer sounded, Golden State had secured a 118-113 victory, clinching the series 4-2.
Breaking down the numbers
- Stephen Curry: 33 points (all in the second half), 5 rebounds, 4 assists.
- Klay Thompson: 27 points, 7-of-13 from three.
- Andre Iguodala: 17 points and 5 steals. He hit five threes, which was a huge "X-factor" since Houston was begging him to shoot.
- James Harden: 35 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists. He played well, but 6 turnovers and some late-game stagnation hurt.
- Chris Paul: 27 points and 11 rebounds. This was arguably his best game of the series, but it wasn't enough.
What Most People Get Wrong About This Game
There’s this narrative that the Rockets "choked." That's kinda lazy. Houston actually played a decent game. They shot 43% from the floor and 12-of-39 from deep. They didn't have a Game 7-style meltdown where they missed 27 straight threes.
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The reality is more annoying for Rockets fans: the Warriors just played better basketball when it mattered.
Draymond Green was a defensive masterclass, despite only scoring 8 points. He had 10 rebounds and 7 assists, but his real value was in the short roll. When Houston trapped Curry, Draymond caught the ball and carved them up. Kevon Looney was also a monster off the bench, grabbing 14 points and 5 rebounds, many of which were clutch second-chance opportunities.
The Legacy of the 2019 Semifinals
This game basically broke the Houston Rockets. They traded Chris Paul for Russell Westbrook shortly after, a move that most analysts now see as the beginning of the end for that era of Rockets basketball. They had the Warriors on the ropes—KD was out, Steph had zero at half—and they still couldn't close the deal.
For the Warriors, it was the ultimate "point proven" game. It showed they could still win playing their old, pre-KD style of ball. High-motion, heavy screening, and Steph-Draymond pick-and-rolls.
If you want to understand why the Warriors dynasty lasted as long as it did, don't look at the easy blowouts. Look at this game. Look at the grit it took to walk into Houston without their best scorer and take the win.
Key takeaways for your next watch-party debate:
- Steph’s 33-point second half is the most points ever scored in a half by a player who was scoreless in the first half of a playoff game.
- Andre Iguodala’s five threes were his most in a game in over five years at that point.
- This was the fourth time in five years the Warriors eliminated the Rockets.
To truly appreciate the nuance of this rivalry, go back and watch the fourth-quarter highlights. Notice how the Warriors didn't panic when they fell behind early in the period. They stuck to the system. It’s a masterclass in championship poise that most teams today are still trying to replicate.
If you're looking to improve your own game or just understand the X's and O's better, pay attention to the "Short Roll" playmaking from Draymond Green. It’s the single most important adjustment the Warriors made after Curry started getting trapped at the half-court line.
Stay updated on current NBA standings and playoff implications by checking the official NBA stats page or following beat writers like Anthony Slater for deep dives into team chemistry and tactical shifts.