The Warriors handled business in Houston on Sunday, taking a 1-0 lead over the Rockets with a gritty 95-85 win. And if you caught the game, you already know—Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler were cooking. They combined for 56 points, and honestly, it looked like they were just hooping at the park.

Now here’s where things get a little weird. Brandin Podziemski, the only other Warrior to hit double figures, might not be good to go for Game 2. Yeah, seriously. He wasn’t even listed on the injury report at first. Then out of nowhere—he’s questionable.

Turns out, the guard’s battling an illness. Steve Kerr said he got through shootaround, which is a good sign. But he’ll still need to go through warmups before they decide if he’s playing. Kerr also mentioned it could be something he ate. Which, let’s be honest, is the most frustrating kind of sick.

Since mid-February, right after Golden State pulled off the Butler trade, Podz has held down a starting spot. And honestly? He’s earned every bit of that role.

Brandin Podziemski is turning heads not just with box score numbers, but with how he plays the game. In just his sophomore year, he’s already figured out the secret sauce of the Warriors’ system: movement, timing, and trust. That’s rare.

What makes Podz so valuable is his intangibles. The way he crashes the glass, challenges bigger bodies, and plays with that chip-on-the-shoulder intensity — that’s not something you coach, it’s something you feel. He’s become the kind of glue guy Golden State thrives on.

He’s not demanding touches, he’s earning them. He cuts hard, defends with pride, and plays unselfish basketball — everything that makes the Warriors’ motion offense click. And with Jimmy Butler now in the mix, having a young two-way connector like Podz who can stay locked in, rebound in traffic, and make smart decisions becomes even more vital.

In Game 1 against Houston, the rookie stepped up big time. He dropped 14 points and led the team in plus-minus at +17. During the regular season, he quietly put together a solid sophomore campaign—11.7 points, 5.1 boards, 3.4 assists, and a steal per game. His shooting splits? Pretty clean too: 44.5% from the field, 37.2% from deep, and 75.8% at the line.

But the Warriors have another issue on their hands heading into Game 2—rebounding.

Despite grabbing a win in Game 1, they got out-muscled on the glass. The Rockets pulled down 52 boards to Golden State’s 36, including a staggering 22-6 advantage on the offensive end. That’s not just a bad look—it’s a recipe for disaster in a tight playoff series.

Steve Kerr didn’t shy away from that reality after Tuesday’s practice. He owned up to riding Jimmy Butler a little too long when the Warriors were rolling in the third quarter.

“I honestly thought where I made a mistake was, we were rolling in that third quarter and I kept Jimmy out there because we were rolling,” Kerr said. “I thought I played him too much in the second half.”

Butler’s logged serious minutes lately—42 in Game 1, 40 in the play-in, and 48+ in that OT battle against the Clippers. And if Kerr wants to keep him fresh while patching up the rebounding issues, he may need to turn to his bench.

Gui Santos got under seven minutes in the opener and grabbed just one rebound. Jonathan Kuminga didn’t see the floor—for the third straight game. Still, both are among the Warriors’ top rebounders off the bench.

With the Rockets dominating the glass, it might be time for a rotation shake-up. Because if this turns into another rebounding clinic by Houston, heading home tied 1-1 is very much on the table. And that’s not the only thing Golden State needs to worry about tonight. Houston has every reason to treat Game 2 like a must-win.

The Rockets will have to contain Stephen Curry

Golden State’s up 1-0, but don’t let that final score fool you—the Rockets still have a real shot to even things out. Their 85-point showing in Game 1? Yeah, not great. Call it first-game jitters or just growing pains, but something’s gotta give tonight if they want to avoid heading to Chase Center down 0-2.

And standing in their way? The human flamethrower himself—Stephen Curry.

Steph was lights-out in the opener. He poured in 31 points, hit 12 of his 19 shots, and casually knocked down five triples like he was messing around in a shoot around. Every time Houston looked ready to rally, he answered. It wasn’t just scoring—it was timely scoring.

So what’s the plan? You’re not stopping Steph entirely—come on, it’s Steph. But Houston can try to make things harder for him. That responsibility likely falls on Amen Thompson’s shoulders.

He’s got the tools. At 6’7” with a 7-foot wingspan, Thompson is a defensive nightmare when he’s locked in. Game 1 wasn’t his finest moment—he finished with a team-worst -16. But don’t let that fool you. The guy showed All-Defense potential all year.

If the Rockets want any shot at flipping this series, Thompson has to bounce back. And what better night than tonight?