Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) confronts Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (9) during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Monday, April 28, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. V谩squez)
Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, center, watches Draymond Green scuffle with Houston Rockets’ Dillon Brooks in the second quarter of an NBA Playoffs’ First Round Game 4 at Chase Center in San Francisco on Monday, April 28, 2025.(Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) confronts Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (9) during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Monday, April 28, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. V谩squez)
Houston Rockets forward Tari Eason, left, and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) fight during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Monday, April 28, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. V谩squez)
Golden State Warriors’ Quentin Post scuffles with Houston Rockets’ Jabari Smith, Jr. and Dillon Brooks in the second quarter of an NBA Playoffs’ First Round Game 4 at Chase Center in San Francisco on Monday, April 28, 2025.(Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, right, confronts Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Monday, April 28, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. V谩squez)
Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (9) talks to referee Bill Kennedy during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors, Monday, April 28, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. V谩squez)
Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green walks to the bench during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors, Monday, April 28, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. V谩squez)
Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun reacts during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Golden State Warriors, Monday, April 28, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. V谩squez)
Jimmy Butler returns from injury absence to lead Warriors past Rockets 109-106 for 3-1 series lead
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) 鈥 Jimmy Butler converted three free throws with 58.7 seconds left, grabbed the game-clinching rebound with 4 seconds to go and then made two more free throws on the way to 27 points in his return from a pelvic injury, sending the Golden State Warriors past the Houston Rockets 109-106 on Monday night in a heated Game 4 to take a 3-1 lead in the first-round playoff series.
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) confronts Houston Rockets forward Dillon Brooks (9) during the first half of Game 4 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series Monday, April 28, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. V谩squez)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) 鈥 Jimmy Butler converted three free throws with 58.7 seconds left, grabbed the game-clinching rebound with 4 seconds to go and then made two more free throws on the way to 27 points in his return from a pelvic injury, sending the Golden State Warriors past the Houston Rockets 109-106 on Monday night in a heated Game 4 to take a 3-1 lead in the first-round playoff series.
Fred VanVleet missed a 3-pointer under pressure at the buzzer.
The teams return to Houston for Game 5 in the best-of-seven series on Wednesday night as seventh-seeded Golden State tries to close out the No. 2 seed Rockets on their home floor.
Brandin Podziemski scored 26 points, Stephen Curry finished with 17 in the frantic finish and Buddy Hield hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 3:32 left and scored 15 after joining the starting lineup.
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Alperen Sengun scored with 40 seconds left for Houston to make it a one-point game. He had 31 points and 10 rebounds, while VanVleet hit a tying 3-pointer with 1:20 to play and scored 25 points.
with a pelvic contusion and deep gluteal muscle bruise suffered on a hard fall when he was fouled by Amen Thompson early in Game 2.
The second quarter Monday , including shoving during one sequence involving Curry, Draymond Green and Dillon Brooks.
With the game tied at 36, Curry dribbled down the sideline when Green put a hard screen on Houston鈥檚 Amen Thompson. Brooks fouled Curry and he appeared to become angry about the push before going at Curry and Green.
Curry received a technical for 鈥渢aunting鈥 Brooks, who also received a technical along with Green. Warriors rookie Quinten Post and Houston鈥檚 Jabari Smith Jr. flailed their arms at each other but avoided technicals upon replay review by the officials.
Then with 2:44 left in the quarter, tempers flared again. Green received a Flagrant 1 foul for pushing Tari Eason鈥檚 face to the ground and Eason also received a technical. Green was dribbling when Eason went for a steal and the ball got loose and both players hit the floor trying to corral it. Green鈥檚 left leg was on the Rockets forward鈥檚 neck.
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Butler shot 7 for 12 in 40 minutes after he watched Curry , nine assists and seven rebounds in Golden State’s 104-93 victory Saturday night without him.
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