They were riding high. Up 1–0 in the series. The offense had found its rhythm. The defense looked locked in. And the stars? Stephen Curry and Jimmy Butler had just combined for 56 points in Game 1. But barely a quarter into Game 2, the entire script flipped—and fast.

Jimmy Butler hit the floor hard. A collision with Amen Thompson sent him crashing onto his tailbone. He stayed down, grimaced, stood back up—and shot his free throws. Then he walked straight to the locker room. Butler was ruled out for the rest of the night with a pelvic contusion. No limping. No wincing. Just gone.

The bench stood frozen. And the Warriors—just minutes into what should’ve been a statement night—were suddenly in survival mode.

This wasn’t just a freak incident. It came on the heels of a decision Kerr made just hours before tipoff: staggering rotations, leaning heavier into smaller, switch-heavy lineups, and giving Brandin Podziemski the keys to run the second unit. But within moments, that plan began to wobble.

Podziemski himself exited during the break between quarters, escorted by training staff. He’s reportedly battling a stomach issue—and is now questionable to return. Two key contributors. Both in the locker room. Mid-game. And no clear answers.

Golden State’s since then has been trying its best, but Houston smells blood. Alperen Sengun had a monster first half—13 points, 7 boards, even a made three-pointer. Dillon Brooks is hitting contested midrange shots. Jalen Green and Amen Thompson, who were shaky in Game 1, have found early rhythm. The Rockets, down 0–1 and desperate, are outmuscling the Warriors in transition and exploiting mismatches with ease.

The first half ended in a chaotic flurry of made threes—six straight between both teams—but as the buzzer sounded, Houston held a 60–46 lead. The Warriors walked off the floor not just trailing on the scoreboard, but reeling in spirit.

The momentum has shifted—but it’s not just the score. It’s the silence on the Warriors’ bench. It’s the look on Kerr’s face as he searches for options. And it’s the sense that every missed rotation, every late closeout, now carries the weight of the season.

Steve Kerr’s risky experiment wasn’t just about matchups. It’s now a test of resilience. The Warriors—already thin—are watching their playoff map shrink in real time. And now, they’re asking a 37-year-old Curry with an ailing thumb to carry more. Again.

Before all this spiraled, though, there was one player quietly holding things together: Brandin Podziemski. And his absence tonight? It’s shaking everything loose.

What happens when your glue guy vanishes mid-war?

It’s easy to overlook a sophomore guard when Curry and Butler are on the floor. But Brandin Podziemski has been the connective tissue for this second unit. His defensive grit, rebounding hustle, and willingness to make the extra pass kept Golden State balanced through stretches of Game 1. And his absence? It’s shaking everything loose in real time.

Tonight, it’s not just the Rockets who’ve come out with fire—it’s the Warriors who look disoriented. The system feels disjointed. The ball isn’t rotating cleanly. And what’s most evident? The second unit is gasping for structure. Because the one guy who’s quietly held it together over the last month is currently battling stomach issues.

It’s a brutal blow, not just physically but symbolically. Because Podziemski has been Golden State’s connector. The only Warrior outside of Curry and Butler to score in double digits in Game 1, he added 14 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, and 2 steals—all while being the guy doing the little things no box score truly captures.

He fights over screens. He crashes boards with urgency. He makes that extra pass to flip the possession. And when Curry and Butler are drawing blitzes, it’s often Brandin who navigates the release valve.

Tonight? That release valve is gone. The floor spacing is tighter. The rotations slower. The decisions more reactive than proactive. The Rockets are punishing that. Sengun and Jalen Green have already racked up double digits and are bodying defenders down low. The Warriors are bleeding at the point of attack—and the absence of Brandin’s help-side defense and transition anticipation is glaring.

And this isn’t just tonight. Over his last 10 games, Brandin has averaged nearly 16 points, six boards, four assists, and 2+ threes per game. He’s become more than a sophomore standout—he’s become a piece of Steve Kerr’s postseason formula. A young player trusted to close games in the playoffs. That doesn’t happen by accident.

After Game 1, Brandin had said, “We’re the underdogs, and we will be throughout these playoffs… but it’s just basketball at the end of the day.”

That humility hit different then—honest, grounded. But tonight, with him in the locker room and the Warriors unraveling in real time, his words feel heavier. Because right now, it’s more than just basketball. It’s the Warriors trying to hang on to their postseason identity without two of their steadiest hands.

So here’s the real question: if Jimmy Butler is out long term… and Podziemski can’t get right in time… is this roster even built to survive two downed engines?

Because right now, it’s Steph and hope. And hope is running low.