Rockets impose their defense and extend the series against Warriors with a key performance from Amen Thompson

In a do-or-die game, the Houston Rockets responded with solidity and strategy in Game 5 against the Golden State Warriors , winning 131-116 and forcing a sixth game in the first-round series.

The key was clear from the start: slow down Stephen Curry and exploit the openings for Fred VanVleet to lead the attack. To execute this plan, coach Ime Udoka relied on Amen Thompson, who performed perfectly on both ends of the court.

Thompson guarded Curry and also guarded Jimmy Butler III in the first half. During that time, Butler shot just 1 of 6 from the field (16.7%) with Thompson as his primary defender, while Curry was 1 of 3. Both players also committed two turnovers under the same guard. Curry finished with 13 points, making just 3 of 9 3-pointers in 23 minutes of play, his lowest total in a series-clinching game of his career.

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Thompson 's work was instrumental in containing Golden State 's main playmakers. Butler also had a lackluster night, scoring just eight points in 25 minutes.

Offensively, Houston maintained control throughout the game thanks to the combined performance of Thompson and VanVleet . The former finished with 21 points and five steals, becoming the first Rockets player to record 10 points and five steals in a half during the last 25 postseasons. VanVleet , meanwhile, finished with 26 points, including 14 in a single quarter, matching his second-high in the playoffs. His effectiveness from the three-point line was key, hitting 4 of 6 attempts.

With this result, the Rockets closed the gap in the series, which still favors Golden State at 3-2. The next game will be played on Friday at the Chase Center , where the Warriors will look to close out the series, while Houston will try to force a seventh and decisive game.

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