Jimmy Butler III returned from a one-game absence to score 14 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter to help the Golden State Warriors record a 109-106 victory over the Houston Rockets in Game 4 of their first-round playoff series in San Francisco yesterday (Philippine time).

Brandin Podziemski made six three-pointers and scored 26 points as the Warriors took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven Western Conference matchup.

Stephen Curry scored 17 points, Buddy Hield added 15 and Quinten Post had 13 off the bench for seventh-seeded Golden State.

Alperen Sengun amassed 31 points and 10 rebounds and Fred VanVleet knocked down eight three-pointers while scoring 25 points for the second-seeded Rockets. Amen Thompson put up 17 points for Houston.

The Rockets had a chance to tie in the final second, but VanVleet was off-target on a long three-point attempt.

Game 5 is on Thursday morning, May 1 (Philippine time), in Houston.

Butler missed Game 3 due to a pelvic injury and had just four points in the first half of Game 4 before excelling in the second half. He ended the night 12-for-12 on free-throw attempts, and he scored all of Golden State’s last five points at the line. (Field Level Media / Reuters)