PREVIEW: The Golden State Warriors (48-34) will host the Houston Rockets (52-30) in a pivotal Game 3 matchup at Chase Center with the first-round Western Conference series tied 1-1. After dropping Game 2 by a score of 109-94, the Warriors hope to leverage their home-court advantage despite potentially missing Jimmy Butler due to a pelvis contusion suffered in the previous contest. The Rockets, boasting the NBA's top-ranked defense against shots attacking the rim and leading the league in offensive rebounding percentage (30.4%), dominated the glass in Game 2 with 47 total rebounds compared to Golden State's 33. Jalen Green exploded for 38 points in Houston's victory, including eight three-pointers, while Alperen Sengun contributed a double-double with 17 points and 16 rebounds. Golden State will look to counter with their second-ranked high-frequency three-point shooting attack (46.9% of attempts coming from beyond the arc) and fourth-ranked passing game to create better scoring opportunities. Stephen Curry, who managed 20 points and 9 assists in the Game 2 loss, will need to recapture his offensive rhythm against Houston's staunch defense that allows just 109.8 points per game (6th in NBA). The Warriors' third-ranked offensive rebounding (27.8%) could prove critical in generating second-chance opportunities against the physically imposing Rockets squad. With the series momentum hanging in the balance, this matchup presents a fascinating contrast between Golden State's perimeter-oriented offense and Houston's rim-protecting, rebounding-focused approach.