The Rockets needed a feel-good win, which the Warriors, or what is left of them, were not equipped to provide. Then again, after a rough road trip, any win in a brief stopover at Toyota Center would do.
Once the Rockets got their offense going, the win part of the plan was never in doubt. The Rockets rolled 129-112 past a version of the Warriors that looked like a cross between participants in predraft workouts and players called on to finish blowouts.
The Rockets built their largest lead of the season to 23 points midway through the third quarter and never seemed threatened when the Warriors trimmed that to 10.