Why isn't Stephen Curry playing? Warriors wave white flag after falling in 30-point second-half hole vs. Rockets

Needing a win to keep their season alive, the Rockets have dominated Game 5 against the Warriors as it appears Houston will extend its season.

Houston played with intensity right out of the gate, scoring 40 points in the first quarter and taking a 27-point lead into halftime. Then, as the Rockets kept that lead in the second half, they forced Warriors coach Steve Kerr to make an unusual move.

Kerr emptied his bench midway through the third quarter as Golden State was facing a daunting deficit. Instead of trying to put together a comeback, Kerr seemed to concede this game while already up 3-1, preparing for Game 6 on Friday night instead.

Here's a breakdown of Kerr's decision in Game 5.

📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp

Why isn't Stephen Curry playing in Game 5?

Curry played 23 minutes on Wednesday night, beginning the game with his usual rotation. However, head coach Steve Kerr decided to bench Curry, Draymond Green, and Jimmy Butler midway through the third quarter, as the Warriors faced a 30-point deficit.

This should allow Curry, who is 37, to not exhaust himself with a Game 6 coming in just two days on Friday night. The Warriors will return home to try and close out the series with a third home win.

NBA PLAYOFFS HQ: Live NBA scores | NBA playoff schedule | NBA playoff bracket

Stephen Curry stats

Here's how Curry performed during Game 5 vs. Houston.

• Minutes: 23
• Points: 13
• Rebounds: 3
• Assists: 7
• FGA/FGM: 4/12
• 3PA/3PM: 3/9
• FGM/FGA: 2/3

Stephen Curry lowest-scoring playoff games

Curry's 13 points are not his typical output, but it is not his fewest points in a playoff game. In 2016, Curry scored just six in Game 4 of Golden State's first-round series vs. the Rockets. In fact, there have been five instances where Curry scored fewer points in a playoff game.