With their backs against the wall, Amen Thompson set the tone defensively, and the rest of the Houston Rockets — particularly Dillon Brooks – quickly followed suit.
One down, two more games to go.
"He [Thompson] took it personal, and that's what we need from him every single night," Brooks spoke regarding Thompson’s 25-point, five-steal, and three-block outing in a 131-116 Game 5 win over the Golden Warriors.
"He took it personal tonight..."
— NBA (@NBA) May 1, 2025
Dillon Brooks on Amen Thompson after his 5 STL, 3 BLK game in the @HoustonRockets win 🔐💪
The 22-year-old posted his playoff career-high while locking down Warriors star Stephen Curry to a series-low 13 points.
All of his five steals came in the first half as Thompson joined Hakeem Olajuwon, Charles Barkley, Elvin Hayes, and Rick Barry as the only players ever to score 25 or more points, five or more steals, and three more or blocks in a single playoff game.
Meanwhile, Brooks also put on a defensive clinic after containing Golden State’s another superstar in Jimmy Butler to just eight points coming off a 27-point Game 4.
[ALSO READ: Rockets stave off elimination, drub Warriors in Game 5 to cut series deficit to 3-2]
"As a defender, you have to take the matchup personal. He was reading Steph, reading a lot of the guys, staying in front, being disciplined on the defensive end without reaching,” the 29-year-old said.
He added: “We need that Amen every single game because we're going to go against guys like Steph again. That same mentality, that tenacity that he was playing with gives us a lot of energy, gives us.”
Thompson recorded three steals in just the opening frame — the last one against Curry — where Houston cruised to a dominating 40-24 start.
"I'm running down the court facing the other way, and the whole thing goes the other way. All the steals were impressive for sure, just him locking in defensively, being aggressive offensively," Rockets young star Jalen Green answered when asked what stood out on Thompson’s stellar outing.
ALL 5 OF AMEN THOMPSON'S 1ST-HALF STEALS ??
— NBA (@NBA) May 1, 2025
Does NOT want Houston's season to end 😤 https://t.co/Ic2xyTts9S
Fred VanVleet topscored Houston with 26 points while Brooks chipped in 25. Alongside Amen, they became the first trio in franchise history to record 25 or more points and shot 50% or more in a playoff game since Kenny Smith, Clyde Drexler, and Hakeem Olajuwon in 1995.
Overall, the Rockets led by as many as 31 points, translated 14 Warrior turnovers to 18 points, and shot a series-high 55% from the field.
"It's hard to pick up full-court a guy like [Steph] Curry. Obviously, they're setting high screens for him. So, playing without fouling is a big thing. [Amen] got his hands on a few balls, got those steals and ignited us there. [He played] a very well-rounded game," Houston head coach Ime Udoka bared.
By extending their season and the series, the Rockets have a chance to become just the 14th team in league history to overcome a 3-1 deficit in a best-of-seven series.
Houston has done it twice, most recently in the 2015 Western Conference semifinals against the LA Clippers, but they must first beat the Warriors in their own backyard in Game 6 to force a do-or-die seventh game back in H-Town.
