Breaking their NBA play-in tournament curse, the Warriors earned a playoff spot to face the Rockets, with whom they have a storied playoff history. To secure four wins against the No. 2-seeded Rockets, the Warriors must focus on four keys: protecting the ball, freeing Steph Curry from tough defenders, and managing the size mismatch between their smaller backcourt and Houston’s larger lineup. By minimizing turnovers and maximizing Curry’s scoring opportunities, the Warriors aim to leverage their playoff experience in this competitive matchup.



