Category: Basketball

The shirt’s been inside LeBron James’ extra locker since the day he received it, a facsimile of the Lakers’ iconic golden jerseys with No. 77 on the front and “Doncic" on the back.

James wore a shirt exactly like it during pregame warmups on Feb. 10, a very public signal from someone rarely subtle that he was ready to embrace the partnership put on him when the Lakers made the midseason trade that gave the team two of the NBA’s best big-game players.

But in the Game 5 loss to Minnesota that ended their season Wednesday, Luka Doncic was grimacing after a foul jammed his lower back in the first half. And James barely put weight on his left leg as he limped off the court in the fourth quarter.

Still, with a little more than seven minutes to go, the two were on the court, the Lakers ready to back up the widely held belief that the closer the game, the better off they’d be because of their leaders.

The scoreboard in Crypto.com Arena showed highlights of Doncic and James, their No. 77 and No. 23 uniforms adding up to 100, with just three minutes to go and the Lakers down two.

But like it did late in fourth quarters throughout this first-round playoff series, the math never added up.

And the duo couldn’t lift the Lakers to the heights they thought possible.

And even as that Doncic shirt hung inside the Lakers’ locker room for the last time, hope that had been built over the last two months evaporated as the Lakers again failed to win the biggest moments, a 103-96 loss ending their season after just five games in the first round.

“It doesn’t happen overnight,” JJ Redick said. “We obviously wished that.”

James admitted postgame that the midseason trade that landed the Lakers Doncic obviously changed the team’s identity, shifting ball-handling duties heavily from him and Austin Reaves into Doncic’s hands.

“That whole obviously dynamic changed when we made the acquisition of Luka to how can we change our approach to best fit his game and how can we center our game around his,” James said. “And I think it's always challenging when you, you make a, like I said, a big acquisition like that.”

It didn’t matter that Minnesota missed 40 three-point shots, the most by a team in a postseason win. The Timberwolves seemed to grab every rebound. It didn’t matter that Anthony Edwards was just five for 19 from the field — the Lakers couldn ‘t capitalize. And it didn’t matter that the Lakers were on their home court, Minnesota silencing the fans as it defensively dominated the fourth quarter for the fifth straight game.

Lakers coach JJ Redick sacrificed size for quickness and spacing, benching center Jaxson Hayes and starting Dorian Finney-Smith like he did in the second half of Game 4. This time Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert made the Lakers pay with playoff career highs of 27 points and 24 rebounds.

No one was more impactful — a bad sign for the Lakers. Doncic had 28 points on seven-for-18 shooting. James scored 22 on nine-for-21 shooting. Austin Reaves had only 12.

“I didn't have the series that I wanted to have. You could point the finger at me. I really don't care. I wasn't good enough to help us be successful and I wish I could have did more, but I didn't,” Reaves said. “I struggled. You live and you learn. And I guarantee that I'll, get back to work this off season and be better.”

All series things never looked easy for the Lakers.

The bulk of that credit should go to Minnesota, which not only looked like the more cohesive team but also functioned as one designed almost explicitly to highlight every one of the Lakers’ blemishes.

The Lakers, who won games by playing hard, lost to a team that always seemed to play harder. The Lakers, who earned home-court advantage by being tougher, lost to a team that was tougher. And the Lakers, who looked like they could beat anyone in the regular season, lost to a team that they obviously couldn’t.

Redick, who described the Lakers as “on edge” in the practice before Game 5, angrily responded to a pregame question that implied he needed to lean on his assistant coaches to better handle late-game substitutions.

His team quickly fell behind. Minnesota's Julius Randle, the first piece of the Lakers’ post-Kobe Bryant plans, looked like the bulldozing tone-setter the team envisioned when it took him in the first round in 2014.

James and Doncic, who owned the top two scoring averages in elimination games in NBA history, made just one of eight shots in the first quarter. With each miss, the murmurs from the crowd grew longer, the fans mirroring the Lakers and their fading chances.

The team pushed early in the second quarter as Randle and Jaden McDaniels, maybe the series most valuable player, sat with foul trouble, allowing the Lakers to get within a single possession on multiple occasions.

But in the moments when the Lakers and their stars needed to capitalize, they looked more like separate entities than an unstoppable force. James tried to find Doncic as he flared to the corner and threw a pass directly to Edwards. Doncic couldn’t play on the defensive string the Lakers all needed to be pulling on, Minnesota’s easy baskets leading to James’ open frustration toward the Lakers’ bench.

But with their season on the line, the Lakers did something they’d rarely done all season: They dominated the third quarter. The Lakers fought back from 14 down to lead on a Dorian Finney-Smith three, trading scores with the Timberwolves to trail by just one heading to the fourth.

But like it did all series, that’s when things dried up. The Lakers managed just 16 points in the fourth on Wednesday and averaged just 17 fourth-quarter points in the series.

“We executed great in the fourth quarter,” Redick said. “Missed shots at the rim, missed a bunch of 3s, shot 12-for-52 for the series in the fourth quarter from three … We obviously put ourselves in a position to be in the game three times in the fourth quarter, and just came up short every time.

“But, the offensive part of it in particular tonight, I mean, we missed wide open threes, we missed a couple of shots at the rim. We got good looks”

It's the first time the Lakers ever lost a first-round series as a No. 3 or higher seed. They fell to 2-12 in their last three playoff series.

“Yeah, there's obviously a lot of different things we can do, I can do,” Doncic said. “Obviously, everybody got to get better. We're gonna have a long summer. And should focus on what we can improve as a team and as individuals, everybody."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Australian basketballer Dyson Daniels has declared he can still get better after winning the NBA’s prestigious Most Improved Player award. The George Mikan Trophy is awarded for the player who shows the most progress between seasons.

Daniels was selected eighth in the 2022 draft, but started only 25 games in two seasons for New Orleans before he was traded to Atlanta last year. He was in the Hawks’ starting five for all 76 appearances this season.

Related: NBA playoffs: Haliburton’s ‘disrespectful’ father sparks fracas as Pacers seal Bucks’ fate

“I came into the third year wanting to really put my foot down and go out there and show what I could do,” Daniels told the NBA on TNT broadcast. “I think it was just a small step in the right direction this year, and I feel like I’ve got a lot more in me.”

Playing alongside all-star teammate Trae Young, Daniels made the most of the opportunity with Atlanta. He averaged 14.1 points per game, an increase of 8.3 on the previous season, and three steals per contest, the highest figure in the league.

The man given the nickname “The Great Barrier Thief” recorded 229 takeaways in all, the most in a season in almost 30 years. He was also among three nominees for the league’s defensive player of the year award, won by Cleveland’s Evan Mobley.

The 22-year-old said landing at Atlanta gave him a fresh start. “It’s just coming in with the right mindset, working hard in the offseason, having a good Olympic campaign, and going out there and being aggressive, being myself, and not caring about making mistakes,” he said.

“The main theme this year is I got trust in my coaches, trust in my teammates, and I was able to go out there and just be myself.”

Daniels earned first place votes from 44 of the award’s 100 voters, delivering him 332 total points based on a 5-3-1 voting system.

Los Angeles Clippers’ centre Ivica Zubac finished second with 186 points, and Detroit guard Cade Cunningham attracted 122. Daniels’ Australian backcourt teammate, Chicago’s Josh Giddey, finished 10th in voting.

Dyson Daniels' dad Ricky crashed the end of his #KiaMIP interview 😆🎉 pic.twitter.com/J6eEZ5YoYc

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 30, 2025

The executive who traded Daniels from New Orleans last year, David Griffin, said in a visit to Australia in March the deal was “the right thing to do at the right time”.

The trade included Daniels, two first-round draft picks and other players in exchange for guard Dejounte Murray. Murray ruptured his Achilles tendon in January and Griffin was fired as the Pelicans’ executive vice president two weeks ago.

Daniels helped the Hawks finish ninth in the NBA’s Eastern Conference, but the team lost a painful play-in match against Miami in overtime.

The Australian, who grew grew up in Bendigo – a hotbed of Australian basketball talent – has returned to stay with his family in Melbourne following the conclusion of the season.

His older brother Kai plays VFL with Richmond, and his younger brother Dash is due to play in the NBL with Melbourne United later this year as part of the Next Star programme.

‘Nico Harrison was right': Fans react as Timberwolves stun Lakers in first round originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Was Nico Harrison…right?

The Dallas Mavericks general manager may have been watching from home, but his thought process about trading Luka Doncic came to the spotlight.

Doncic, in particular, struggled to impose himself defensively despite posting strong offensive numbers. The Los Angeles Lakers also saw their lack of depth play a factor, as the five starters accumulated heavy minutes to compensate for a feeble bench.

Los Angeles worked its way up the Western Conference ladder to the No. 3 seed following the Doncic trade, but playoffs expose team’s weaknesses. The No. 6-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves delivered when it mattered, with Julius Randle also enjoying a solid series given his past woes.

The first postseason of the LeBron James-Doncic era ends in early failure, with Rob Pelinka having more work to do as James turns 41 next season.

Here’s how social media reacted to the Lakers’ elimination, which included the Mavericks’ GM:

‘Nico Harrison was right': Fans react as Timberwolves stun Lakers in first round originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Was Nico Harrison…right?

The Dallas Mavericks general manager may have been watching from home, but his thought process about trading Luka Doncic came to the spotlight.

Doncic, in particular, struggled to impose himself defensively despite posting strong offensive numbers. The Los Angeles Lakers also saw their lack of depth play a factor, as the five starters accumulated heavy minutes to compensate for a feeble bench.

Los Angeles worked its way up the Western Conference ladder to the No. 3 seed following the Doncic trade, but playoffs expose team’s weaknesses. The No. 6-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves delivered when it mattered, with Julius Randle also enjoying a solid series given his past woes.

The first postseason of the LeBron James-Doncic era ends in early failure, with Rob Pelinka having more work to do as James turns 41 next season.

Here’s how social media reacted to the Lakers’ elimination, which included the Mavericks’ GM:

Rockets attack Steph's tender thumb with ‘idiotic' rules on their side originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Stephen Curry’s swollen right thumb looks as if it would be uncomfortable holding a toothbrush or tying shoes, much less pulling the Warriors through the NBA playoffs.

There is no doubt the Houston Rockets have noticed the wrap that extends from Curry’s thumb to his wrist. They sense a possible weakness, and every team hunts vulnerabilities once in the playoffs. Coincidentally, basketball is very much a contact sport for the Rockets.

The Rockets appear to be targeting Steph's thumb early on 🤔 pic.twitter.com/wT2bvvCOCw

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) May 1, 2025

They’re making plenty of contact with Curry’s right thumb, which is at the base of the release of his jump shot, and Warriors coach Steve Kerr is more annoyed by it than Curry.

“I don’t think it’s impacting him,” Kerr told reporters in Houston after the 131-116 Game 5 loss to the Rockets. “Players are going to do whatever they’re allowed to do. And, so, on every release Steph’s getting hit.

“But it’s basically within the rules. So that’s how the league wants it right now. I know we’ve got 30 coaches who all think it’s just idiotic that we allow this.”

"It's the dumbest thing I've ever heard, but we have to take it through the league process to get that changed."

Kerr wants to see rule a change after the Rockets went at Steph's thumb all night pic.twitter.com/U2GmUF3ZmD

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) May 1, 2025

The NBA rulebook allows “minimal contact” from a defender once a shot is released. Officials are allowed to use discretion on the definition of “minimal contact.” The Rockets – particularly Dillon Brooks, Amen Thompson and Alperen Şengun – generally don’t operate with a minimal contact approach.

“There’s a pattern of when it’s full extension, when it’s the full point of release, because it’s hard for a ref,” Curry said. “I get it. You’re trying to look at the body, look at the release, where contact is. There’s a subtle difference in how certain people do it. When I say it’s a foul, it’s a foul. But other than that, as a player, you can’t worry about it too much.”

“As a player, you can’t worry about it too much … you can complain, but if you dwell on it and get distracted by it, then you’re not worried about making shots. I’m trying to do both. Make shots and if I get fouled, like, let them know I got fouled.”

Curry played 24 minutes in the Game 5 blowout, finishing with 13 points on 4-of-12 shooting from the field, including 3 of 9 from distance and 2 of 3 from the line. He added three rebounds and seven assists, with three turnovers.

Kerr and Curry both said the tender thumb, initially sprained on New Year’s Day and aggravated countless times, is not having an impact on his performance. He’s averaging 23.4 points per game in this first-round series, shooting 48.8 percent from the field, 39.6 beyond the arc and 90 percent from the line.

In short, Curry is playing well enough for observers to forget about the sore thumb.

But it is sore.

“I do believe [officials] are allowed to call a flagrant if they want,” Kerr said. “The refs can call a flagrant if the guy winds up and takes a takes a shot. It’s been happening across the league all year long. It’s a dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.

“But we have to take it through the league process to get that changed, and that’ll probably happen this summer.”

That thumb will be an issue for as long as the Warriors remain in the postseason. Curry is determined not to let it become the issue that impacts his performance.

It would surprise no one, however, if the Rockets try to have a few more whacks at it. The rule says they can.

“You don’t think about it,” Curry said. “And if it’s a foul, they should call it. That’s it. If it’s a foul, they should call it.”

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‘Nico Harrison was right': Fans react as Timberwolves stun Lakers in first round originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Was Nico Harrison…right?

The Dallas Mavericks general manager may have been watching from home, but his thought process about trading Luka Doncic came to the spotlight.

Doncic, in particular, struggled to impose himself defensively despite posting strong offensive numbers. The Los Angeles Lakers also saw their lack of depth play a factor, as the five starters accumulated heavy minutes to compensate for a feeble bench.

Los Angeles worked its way up the Western Conference ladder to the No. 3 seed following the Doncic trade, but playoffs expose team’s weaknesses. The No. 6-seeded Minnesota Timberwolves delivered when it mattered, with Julius Randle also enjoying a solid series given his past woes.

The first postseason of the LeBron James-Doncic era ends in early failure, with Rob Pelinka having more work to do as James turns 41 next season.

Here’s how social media reacted to the Lakers’ elimination, which included the Mavericks’ GM:

Timberwolves stunningly eliminate Lakers, await Warriors-Rockets series winner originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

The Minnesota Timberwolves didn’t fall into the same trap as the Warriors on Wednesday night.

Given the chance to pull off a first-round NBA playoff series upset, the Timberwolves seized the moment, beating the No. 3-seeded Los Angeles Lakers 103-96 in Game 5 at Crypto.com Arena.

Minnesota, the Western Conference’s No. 6 seed, advances to the conference semifinals, where it awaits the winner of the Golden State-Houston series.

The Warriors lost Game 5 131-116 at Toyota Center and now lead the Rockets 3-2. Game 6 is set for 6 p.m. PT on Friday at Chase Center.

If the Warriors beat the Rockets in Game 6, they would travel to Minneapolis for the start of the Western Conference semifinals, which could begin as early as Sunday.

If the Rockets force a Game 7 with the Warriors, the second-round series likely wouldn’t begin until Tuesday night.

Should the Warriors advance to face the Timberwolves, their regular-season record should benefit them, as Golden State took three of the four meetings this season.

But the Warriors have to take care of business against the Rockets first before they can think about the Timberwolves.

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Spencer, Warriors' bench set tone for Game 6 as bright spot in loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

HOUSTON – He wears a black shirt underneath his jersey and sports a mustache that makes him resemble your local mailman more than a backup point guard in the NBA, yet Pat Spencer, with four minutes remaining in the Warriors’ Game 5 loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night, showed exactly why he’s revered inside the locker room. 

Spencer was walking away from a play where he and Moses Moody tried to wrestle a rebound from Dillon Brooks. The Rockets’ agitator flew to the floor like a tornado made its way into Toyota Center and immediately took exception to Spencer, who turned his back and brushed him off, giving a gesture that explains how Golden State has long felt about Brooks. 

That’s when tempers flared and fireworks followed, making what was once a blowout Warriors loss extremely interesting. 

Alperen Şengün bumped Spencer and got in his face, but Spencer didn’t back down and found himself nose-to-nose with the Rockets center who stands eight inches taller than him. As Spencer headbutted Şengün in the eyes, Warriors center Trayce Jackson-Davis came to his aid and shoved Şengün in the chest as he already was falling backwards. 

Pat Spencer was ejected after headbutting Alperen Şengün pic.twitter.com/eGSjdqvpeQ

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) May 1, 2025

TJD WANTED ALL THE SMOKE 😳 pic.twitter.com/jW6M6lVRWD

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) May 1, 2025

Jackson-Davis, Şengün and multiple other players had to be held back. Spencer was ejected, and both Jackson-Davis and Şengün were given offsetting technical fouls. 

“Obviously it’s basketball, we get in the heat of the game, but I’m not going to let someone that’s twice the size of Pat try to go at him like that,” Jackson-Davis told NBC Sports Bay Area in the Warriors’ locker room. “I don’t know what he was thinking.”

The headbutt actually wasn’t seen by Jackson-Davis in real time, but he said when he saw Spencer afterward he saw a little red mark on his forehead, laughing about the incident.

“That was the lacrosse coming out of him,” Jackson-Davis says.

Draymond Green called it “beautiful” to see Spencer and Jackson-Davis getting into it with Şengün. 

“We don’t back down from anybody, and they didn’t,” Green said. 

Though his back was turned to what was going on, Moses Moody gave the perfect answer to how the Warriors feel about Spencer. 

“Pat a dog,” Moody said. 

The Warriors had a chance to close out the series and get some rest before the next round, but lost 131-116, forcing a Game 6 on Friday at Chase Center. Warriors coach Steve Kerr essentially called it a night when he emptied his bench, putting in Spencer, Moses Moody, Kevin Knox, Gui Santos and Quinten Post with a little under six minutes left in the third quarter and the Warriors down by 29 points, 93-64.

If it already wasn’t obvious by then, the game was a wrap. Warriors stars like Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Green already were discussing adjustments that needed to be made for Game 6. But that wasn’t the focus for the Warriors on the court, or the rest of their reserves. 

They were given a chance to show what they’re made of and seized their opportunity. 

The Warriors’ reserves outscored the Rockets 16-14 the rest of the third quarter, entering the fourth quarter still down by 27 points, 107-80. Jackson-Davis and G League Defensive Player of the Year Braxton Key joined Spencer, Moody and Knox to begin the fourth quarter, and the unit made the Rockets sweat so much the end of the game became a mini win for the Warriors in what otherwise was a near wire-to-wire loss. 

Houston once held a 31-point lead. But after Golden State went on a 10-2 run with that lineup to open the fourth quarter, the deficit was cut to 17, prompting Rockets coach Ime Udoka to bring his starting five back in with eight minutes remaining. 

“That was our goal,” Jackson-Davis said of the bench. “Just having [the Rockets’ starters] play a little extra, and it was just us trying to enforce and bring some energy back to the Bay.” 

Even with the Rockets’ starters back in the game, the Warriors’ backups weren’t slowing down. Before Spencer was ejected, in a stretch that lasted nearly four minutes, the Warriors outscored the Rockets 9-5 and Houston’s lead at one point was cut down to 11.

Through the first four games of the series, Moody had scored a total of 29 points on 38.5-percent shooting and 31.6 percent from deep. The extra playing time allowed him to get in a groove offensively, finishing as the Warriors’ leading scorer with 25 points on 9-of-18 shooting, and he grabbed nine rebounds. Knox was a team-high plus-14 with 14 points. Spencer in 14 minutes scored 11 points and was a plus-13. Jackson-Davis and Key were all over the glass, and both finished as a plus-12. 

Between Curry and Butler, the Warriors only got 21 points from their dynamic duo. The starting five scored a combined 40 points, 36 fewer than the bench’s 76, which is the most in franchise history for a playoff game since the NBA began tracking starters in the 1970-71 season. 

“Loved our bench group,” Kerr said. “They came in, they forced Houston to bring their starters back in. They set a tone that we’re going to need for Game 6. Even though we lost the game, I thought it was crucial that we fought the way we did in the fourth quarter.” 

Teammates and Kerr alike loudly commended their effort. Curry even asked for his ankle braces back when the Warriors were down 14 points with six and a half minutes to go. Butler said he was ready to get back in the game, but Kerr was going to ride with his guys. 

Those guys also allowed Butler to only play 25 minutes, Curry to play 23 and Green to play 18.

The Rockets took control of the game before the Warriors could regain it. Every ounce of fight the Warriors will need to celebrate Friday on their home floor was displayed by their backups, proving they’ll never back down when it’s their moment to shine.

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Why Butler believes Warriors are ‘fine' despite blowout Game 5 loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Despite a lopsided 131-116 Game 5 loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday at Toyota Center, there’s no reason for the Warriors to panic. 

At least that’s what wing Jimmy Butler shared after the Rockets forced a Game 6 set for Friday night at Chase Center.

“We’re fine. Our confidence isn’t going to waver any,” Butler told reporters.

If anyone has experienced the extremes of a seven-game NBA playoff series, it’s Butler. 

During the 2023 Eastern Conference finals, Butler and the Miami Heat gave up a three-to-nothing series lead to the Boston Celtics. The Heat, ultimately, dodged humiliation after winning the series in Game 7.

A year earlier, specifically on May 11, 2022, the Warriors were thumped by the Memphis Grizzlies in Game 5 of their second-round series, losing by 39. Golden State responded and won the series in Game 6.

Although Golden State ended up losing by 15 against the Rockets on Wednesday, Butler and Co. were down by as much as 31 points before the inexperienced Warriors bench battled back in the second half.

The bench balled out 🤷‍♂️ pic.twitter.com/BufHUovVe1

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) May 1, 2025

The similarities between what both the Warriors and Butler experienced a few years back are striking, but the six-time NBA All-Star is confident he and his teammates have what it takes to seal the deal on Friday. 

 “We’re going to start out better,” Butler added. “We’re going to play a better overall game because we know how good of a team we are as a unit.

“We know how good our players are as individuals. So, as starters, we got to kick us off better, which we know that we will do. We will be fine.”

Butler, who went 2 of 10 overall and missed all three of his 3-point attempts on Wednesday, will need to do his part to close out what has been a feisty series back in the Bay.

If not, it’s for certain that the Warriors won’t be in a “fine” situation then.

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Steph Curry has hilarious reaction to viral image of thumb after Warriors' loss originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Steph Curry sees everything, and apparently, the internet sees everything, too, much to the amusement of the Warriors’ superstar.

Following the Warriors’ 131-116 Game 5 loss to the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night at Toyota Center, Curry was asked about a viral image on social media showing his swollen right thumb.

“I got the Feds on me?” Curry asked, laughing. “What are you talking about?”

"You got the feds on me?"

Steph delivered a hilarious response when asked about a viral image of his thumb 😂 pic.twitter.com/epBgx2WhwO

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) May 1, 2025

The image in question was posted by the Warriors on Tuesday as the players were boarding the team plane to Houston.

Internet detectives zoomed in on Curry’s right hand and noticed the swelling.

Look at the swelling on Steph’s injured thumb 😳 pic.twitter.com/JDPu6TC7ZO

— japtaa⚡️ (@DubsBetterr) April 30, 2025

Curry found the whole scenario entertaining.

“I love this league so much,” Curry said. “I love it so much.”

Curry has been dealing with a right thumb injury for several months and wears a heavy wrap for each game.

In Wednesday’s game in Houston, the Rockets were attacking Curry’s thumb. At one point early in the game, he argued with a referee after Dillon Brooks appeared to whack it while contesting a 3-point attempt.

Curry brushed off concerns when asked how his thumb is feeling.

“I don’t even know how to answer that,” Curry told reporters. “Just something you’re dealing with and you keep it moving. As long as I can play. You’ve got a wrap for a reason but that’s it.”

The two-time NBA MVP is confident his injured thumb isn’t impacting how he’s playing.

“No,” Curry said. “Not at all.”

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Warriors' Game 5 no-show a familiar scene, but makes Game 6 imperative originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

With the Houston Rockets playing less like men than a pride of lions, the Warriors on Wednesday absorbed a Game 5 mauling so thorough the starters were dry and seated before the fourth quarter.

The Warriors raised the white flag early and were waving it more furiously with each trifling possession before watching the subs crank up the intensity late to forge a more palatable final score of 131-116.

“It was just a slow start for us on both sides of the ball. We missed some shots, turned the ball up early and didn’t make them miss at all,” Jimmy Butler III told reporters at Toyota Center in Houston.

Golden State coach Steve Kerr, sworn to the wisdom of always having Stephen Curry or Butler on the floor, was so desperate that he deviated less than two minutes into the second quarter. With the Warriors trailing, 46-24, Butler headed to the bench for Gui Santos, who joined Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, Draymond Green and Quinten Post.

That quintet might never again be seen, nor should it be. It certainly will not be in the plan Friday night for Game 6 of this first-round Western Conference playoff series.

The Warriors played Game 5 in Houston as if they were longing to return to the Bay Area for Game 6 at Chase Center. It represents their second opportunity to advance to the conference semifinals and bounce the richly loathed Rockets into the offseason.

“They got in the bonus in four and a half minutes,” Curry said. “They were the aggressor. First three fouls were … I guess they were fouls. And it kind of set the tone. And then they got confidence, went on a run, got the crowd into it early, and the desperate team set the tone.

“We understand how to negate that going into Game 6 and come out with a better effort in that first six minutes to set the tone our way.”

Winning Game 6 is the only way the Warriors can offset this stinker.

The Warriors fell behind by as much as 30 in the first half, with the regular rotation playing as if it were looking ahead to Game 6. When Kerr summoned the subs midway through the third quarter, they played as if money were on the table in Game 5.

“They came in and they forced Houston to bring their starters back in,” Kerr said. “They set a tone that we’re going to need for Game 6. I thought even though we lost the game, I thought it was crucial that we fought the way we did in the fourth quarter.”

This is not unfamiliar territory for Golden State’s veterans. Kerr, Curry, Green, Kevon Looney and Moses Moody can recall the 2022 NBA playoffs, when they took a 3-1 conference semifinals series lead over the Grizzlies before heading to Memphis and taking a 134-95 beating in Game 5. The Warriors returned home and posted a 14-point win in Game 6.

That preceded a conference finals series in which they took a 3-0 lead on the Mavericks, lost Game 4 by 10 in Dallas and came home to win Game 5 by 10 at Chase.

“At this point in our careers,” Green said, “we’ve seen it all. Had all the experiences. So, you’ve got something to draw back from. Yeah, they played a good game. But whether they win by one or by 50, it’s a playoff series. Counts as one.”

After Fred VanVleet, invisible in the first three games but cooking in Games 4 and 5, scored on a layup, putting the Rockets up 93-64, Kerr pulled all five starters and turned to the bench. Led by Pat Spencer and Moody, the reserves outscored Houston 52-38.

As Curry, Butler and Green watched the last 18 minutes from the bench, they already were in Game 6 mode.

“We turned the page quick,” Green said. “Just start talking about possible adjustments that we can make, things we see, stuff we can get into. We have. We flipped the page really fast.”

Game 5 didn’t linger. Rarely does. Only once in Golden State’s history under Kerr has a series been lost after taking a 3-1 lead. There have, however, been numerous earlier closeout games that ended in defeat, including each of the first three rounds preceding the NBA Finals victory over the Boston Celtics.

The 2018-19 Warriors, with Curry and Green joined by prime Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson, built a 3-1 lead over the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round, lost Game 5 at Oracle Arena, but recovered to win Game 6 at Staples Center behind 50 points from Durant.

The environment will be more favorable this time around.

“There’s definitely something you can look back on as part of the journey,” Curry said. “That’s all well and great to talk about. [But] you have to go do something about it on the court. We’ve talked about our group is trying to do this for the first time together. And I love that challenge, because we have an opportunity to write our own story and how we bounce back.

“We’ve had a pretty resilient group over the last two months, and it has to show on Friday.”

Indeed, it does, for going back to Houston for Game 7 would be appreciably more daunting than Game 5.

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