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Ball movement won Golden State the game against Houston

By Nathan Beighle

HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 13: Stephen Curry #30 and Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors high-five after a game against the Houston Rockets on March 13, 2019 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - MARCH 13: Stephen Curry #30 and Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors high-five after a game against the Houston Rockets on March 13, 2019 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Golden State Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets on Wednesday night, and it was due to their stellar and effective ball movement.

28 assists. The Golden State Warriors were plus-ten in the assist column as they downed the Houston Rockets, narrowly beating them by just two points. The Warriors were also without Kevin Durant, forcing the team to toss the ball in the post to DeMarcus Cousins more often.

In turn, Cousins rewarded their trust, turning in possibly his best game of the season. Cousins put up a team-high seven assists. Oftentimes, it was Cousins that initiated the offense, showcase his vision in the post.

Cousins, along with Andre Iguodala, Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, were the four Warriors with four or more assists. Iguodala, Curry and Klay Thompson combined for just one turnover and eleven assists.

Overall, the game featured much less scoring than projected. A combined 210 points, the Warriors-Rockets disappointed those betting on a high scoring game, not quite hitting the Vegas line of 228 points.

The Warriors’ lack of scoring resulted in an assist total that didn’t quite reach their season average. However, the team does average a league-high 29.1 per game and struggled against a formidable Houston defense.

While Cousins was the main, dominating force for their offense, he couldn’t have been as effective without the cutting and movement of his teammates. The Warriors have one of the best moving offenses, especially when they play without one of their superstars.

The Warriors also score the most points per possession when on the break. The combination of Cousins in the halfcourt plus Green in the transition allowed the Dubs to maximize their player’s individual abilities.

On top of all that, the Warriors knew what they had to do to win. Coming into the game, they average the league’s most assists per game out of the post at 2.6. They have almost double the Nuggets, who sit second with 1.5 per game.

Next. Warriors: 3 reasons to consider signing Rudy Gay. dark

Playing to DeMarcus Cousins’ strength the rest of the season will be key for the Warriors’ success, and it perfectly exemplified the type of play they want to continue.

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