Brandon Podziemski scored 26 points and De'Anthony Melton added 23 as the short-handed Golden State Warriors edged the Houston Rockets 115–113 in overtime Thursday night.
Golden State sealed the win in the final seconds of the extra period. With the Warriors leading by three and about 30 seconds remaining, Kevin Durant was fouled on a 3-point attempt and made the first two free throws before missing the third. The Warriors secured the rebound, and Melton tipped in a layup with 5.3 seconds left to extend the lead to 115–112.
Durant later made one of two free throws after another foul, but a subsequent foul by Houston allowed Golden State to run out the clock and escape with the victory.
Al Horford contributed 17 points for the Warriors, who again played without Stephen Curry. The star guard missed his 12th consecutive game because of a knee injury and is expected to be re-evaluated around Tuesday.
Rookie Reed Sheppard led Houston with 30 points, knocking down six 3-pointers, while Durant finished with 23.
The score was tied late in overtime before Podziemski took over, hitting a 3-pointer and then converting a driving layup to give Golden State a 111–106 lead with just over a minute remaining. Amen Thompson made one of two free throws and grabbed his own miss before Durant drained a 3-pointer to trim the deficit to one. Horford responded with a basket to put the Warriors ahead 113–110.
Houston nearly closed it out in regulation. Alperen Şengün gave the Rockets a late lead with a short basket before Horford answered with a 3-pointer to put Golden State up 101–99. Şengün tied the game again with about 30 seconds remaining, and a foul was initially called on Durant against Melton with 6.5 seconds left before Houston successfully challenged and had the call overturned.
The Warriors won the ensuing jump ball and called timeout, but Gui Santos turned the ball over with 0.3 seconds left. Thompson then missed a shot under the basket at the buzzer, sending the game to overtime.
Up next: Golden State visits the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night, while Houston returns home to host the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday night.
