Rockets' Kevin Durant Praises Stephen Curry's Return

Durant impressed by Curry's performance despite Rockets' narrow win

Apr. 6, 2026 at 6:21am

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In a close 117-116 victory over the Golden State Warriors, Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant praised the impressive return of Stephen Curry, who scored 29 points in 25 minutes off the bench. Durant acknowledged that the Rockets had the game under control until Curry entered and quickly got the Warriors back into the contest.

Why it matters

The Rockets have struggled against the Warriors in recent playoff matchups, with the Dubs eliminating them in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019. This year, the Rockets will avoid facing the Warriors in the first round, potentially giving them a better chance at advancing deep into the postseason.

The details

The Rockets held a comfortable lead until Curry checked into the game and quickly made an impact, hitting several clutch shots that had the Rockets flashing back to past playoff defeats. However, the Rockets were able to execute well on the final possession, with Durant drawing two defenders and setting up an easy layup for Alperen Sengun to take the lead. The Rockets then defended Curry well on the final possession, forcing him to miss a potential game-winning three-pointer.

  • The Rockets defeated the Warriors 117-116 on Sunday, April 6, 2026.

The players

Kevin Durant

A star player for the Houston Rockets who praised the impressive return of Stephen Curry.

Stephen Curry

The star point guard for the Golden State Warriors who scored 29 points in 25 minutes off the bench in his return from a 27-game absence.

Alperen Sengun

A Rockets player who scored the game-winning layup on the final possession.

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What they’re saying

“We had the game in control, then they put number 30 in the game. He got them back into it so easily... he looked incredible.”

— Kevin Durant

What’s next

The Rockets will look to continue their strong season and avoid a potential playoff matchup against the Warriors, who have eliminated them in several recent postseasons.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the Rockets' ongoing struggles against the Warriors, but also showed the team's ability to execute down the stretch and secure a narrow victory despite Curry's impressive return. The Rockets will hope to build on this win and find a way to finally get past their playoff nemesis.