Reed Sheppard's 31 Points Lead Rockets to 104-100 Upset Over Warriors

The Houston Rockets pulled off a stunning 104-100 win over the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at Chase Center in San Francisco — a game that flipped the script on every betting line and expert prediction. Guard Reed Sheppard, a second-year player barely on radars a year ago, dropped a career-high 31 points, spearheading a second-half rally that silenced a home crowd expecting a Warriors coronation. The win wasn’t just a surprise — it was a statement. With the victory, the Rockets improved to 12-4 overall and 7-2 on the road, while the Warriors slipped to 10-9 and 6-2 at home, all within the high-stakes context of the NBA Cup Chase Center group play.

Second-Half Surge Shattered the Script

At halftime, the Warriors led 59-47, riding a scorching 34-point second quarter that looked like vintage Golden State. But something shifted in the locker room. Houston came out in the third with a defensive intensity no one saw coming. They held the Warriors to just 17 points — the lowest third-quarter total of the season for Golden State. Meanwhile, Sheppard went nuclear: 14 points in the third alone, hitting step-back threes, driving through traffic, and drawing fouls with surgical precision. By the end of the third, the Rockets had cut the deficit to 76-74 — the first lead change of the game.

Then came the fourth. With 4:12 left and the score tied at 95, Sheppard hit a pull-up three over Draymond Green. A minute later, he stripped Andrew Wiggins and found Amen Thompson for a dunk. The crowd, which had been buzzing for Steph Curry’s behind-the-head assist to Will Richard earlier in the game, fell silent. The Rockets closed the game on a 9-2 run. No timeouts. No panic. Just execution.

Betting Lines Got Crushed — Literally

Before tip-off, the Warriors were favored by 1.5 to 3.5 points across sportsbooks, with moneylines hovering between -110 and -162. The over/under? 224.5 to 225.5 points. The final score? 204. The under hit hard. And the Rockets, listed at +103 to +130 to win, delivered a payday for anyone bold enough to back them. Even Covers.com, which had picked the Warriors -2.5 as its "best bet," had to eat crow. Public betting showed 52% of wagers on Golden State — a classic case of market overconfidence.

Player props were brutal for the Warriors. Steph Curry, who finished with 28 points and 9 assists, went 3-for-12 from three — well under his Over 5.5 three-pointers line. Moses Moody, the betting favorite for Over 2.5 threes, went 0-for-6. Meanwhile, Sheppard’s Over 20.5 points? He crushed it. So did Amen Thompson, who scored 12 points and dished 7 assists, hitting his -215 prop.

Why This Win Matters Beyond the Record

The NBA Cup was supposed to be a glorified exhibition — a way to add excitement to the middle of the season. But this game? It felt like a playoff preview. The Rockets, who had won six of their last seven, now sit atop the Western Conference group standings. The Warriors, who had just snapped a three-game skid, are suddenly in danger of missing the Cup’s knockout round entirely.

What’s more, this win proves Houston’s depth isn’t just a rumor. Sheppard, Thompson, and Jabari Smith (who added 18 points and 10 rebounds) aren’t just role players anymore — they’re the engine. Meanwhile, Golden State’s reliance on Curry and Klay Thompson is starting to show cracks. The Warriors shot just 39% from the field in the second half. Their bench scored 16 points — half of what Houston’s reserves put up.

The Human Element: A Star Is Born

Reed Sheppard wasn’t even a starter two years ago. Drafted 47th overall in 2024, he spent his rookie year mostly on the bench, watching veterans like Jalen Green and Alperen Şengün carry the load. But this season? He’s become the team’s emotional core. After the game, he didn’t celebrate with fireworks. He hugged his father in the stands — the same man who coached him in high school in Kentucky. "I just wanted to make him proud," Sheppard said, according to ESPN sideline reporters. No press conference. No flashy interview. Just quiet confidence.

That’s the thing about this team. They don’t talk about rankings. They don’t care about betting lines. They just play. And when they do? They win.

What’s Next?

The Rockets next face the Sacramento Kings on Saturday in a crucial group finale — a game that could seal their spot in the Cup semifinals. The Warriors, meanwhile, host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday with their tournament hopes hanging by a thread. If Golden State loses, they’ll need help from other teams to advance. And if they win? They’ll need to rediscover their defensive identity — something they’ve lost over the last three games.

One thing’s clear: the NBA Cup isn’t just a gimmick anymore. It’s a stage. And on Wednesday night, a 21-year-old guard from Kentucky turned it into his own spotlight.