The Warriors learned their lesson from Game 2, when Jalen Green went off for 38. They made him play in a crowd. For the game, the Rockets were led by Fred VanVleet with 17 points (13 of those in the first quarter), while Alperen Sengun added 15 points and 11 rebounds. Nobody could score enough for Houston.

Listed as questionable on the injury report, Jimmy Butler was ruled out prior to tipoff and his status remains up in the air for Game 4 on Wednesday. Buddy Hield drained five 3-pointers and scored 17 points in his absence and afterward embraced the comic book reference coined by Butler.

With Jimmy Butler sidelined, Steph Curry dropped 36 points in Game 3 to lead the Warriors to a 2-1 series edge over the Rockets.