SAN FRANCISCO – Facing the league’s most physical and handsy defense without his fearless costar, the Warriors asked the 37-year-old Steph Curry to put the offense on his shoulders in the third game of Golden State’s playoff series with the Rockets.

This was the game the Rockets needed to win on the road. Jimmy Butler was sitting on the bench in a brown sweat suit, out with a pelvic contusion after his fall in Game 2. The Warriors are not the same team without him.

The Houston Rockets find themselves trailing in the series with the Golden State Warriors once again after losing Game 3 in San Francisco. In the 103-94 loss, Warriors guard Stephen Curry led the way with 36 points,