Warriors' Klay Thompson (left) shoots over Rockets' Dwight Howard.
Los Angeles - Stephen was reduced to a spectator after failing a pre-game fitness test on a sore ankle
Published: Tue 19 Apr 2016, 4:07 PM
Last updated: Tue 19 Apr 2016, 10:55 PM
The reigning champion Golden State Warriors shrugged off the injury absence of Stephen Curry to take a 2-0 lead in their playoff series with the Houston Rockets on Monday.
Curry was left a frustrated spectator at Oakland's Oracle Arena after failing a pre-game fitness test on a sore ankle shortly before tip-off.
However, the Warriors made light of their talisman's absence, romping to a 115-106 win that leaves Steve Kerr's record-breaking side firmly on course to advance.
The Rockets must now win one of their next two games at home, on Thursday and Sunday, to extend the series and avoid a first round exit.
With Curry absent, it was left to Klay Thompson to do the damage, with the guard stepping up to weigh in with 34 points.
Thompson added five assists to go with his points haul while Andre Iguodala chipped in with 18 points. Draymond Green finished with 12 points, 14 rebounds and eight assists.
James Harden was the main attacking conduit for Houston, finishing with 28 points and 11 assists to top the Rockets scoring.
Thompson later paid tribute to the Warriors' ability to minimize the impact of Curry's absence.
"We've got such great versatility, numbers 1 to 15. This slogan, strength in numbers is something we really do live by," Thompson told a news conference.
Curry's replacement, Shaun Livingston, played a key role in a fourth quarter scoring burst, finishing with 16 points and six assists, earning high praise from Thompson.