Stephen Curry scored a game-high 27 points and the Golden State Warriors survived a fourth-quarter comeback from the Houston Rockets to claim a 105-98 road victory yesterday (Philippine time).

The Warriors improved to 3-1 since the acquisition of Jimmy Butler III, who finished with 19 points and eight rebounds. Golden State (28-27) pulled above .500 entering the All-Star break.

The Rockets trailed by 24 points in the third quarter before rallying behind their reserves, with Nate Williams and Jock Landale sinking three-pointers before Aaron Holiday followed his floater with a pair of free throws that pulled Houston within 91-89 with 6:03 left.

However, the Rockets followed by missing six consecutive shots. Curry delivered a dagger three-pointer for a 96-89 lead with 3:42 remaining, and Butler later added an alley-oop dunk to keep Houston at bay.

Curry sank a three-pointer at the 7:03 mark of the third quarter to provide the Warriors their first 20-plus-point lead at 74-53, an advantage that swelled to 24 before the Rockets fashioned their improbable rally.

Houston appeared to lose its best opportunity to extend the comeback when Jae’Sean Tate missed two free throws that would have sliced the deficit to 10 with 20.5 seconds remaining in the third. Still, the Rockets kept the comeback going to open the final period.

Before the fourth-quarter surge, the Rockets were last in contention late in the opening period when Jalen Green absorbed a foul while nailing a corner three-pointer to slice their deficit to 19-17. However, Green missed the subsequent free throw and opportunity at a four-point play.

The Warriors extended to a 42-27 lead on a Moody tip-in, and with Curry recording 12 points in the second frame, the Warriors held a 62-48 lead at the break. (Field Level Media / Reuters)