The Houston Rockets’ west coast swing is not off to a great start after they just dropped their second straight to open the trip.

On paper, Thursday night was a game that Houston theoretically should have won pretty handily.

However, games still have to be played on the court and the young Rockets got another less on that subject.

Without Steph Curry and Draymond Green, the Golden State Warriors took down the Rockets 99-93.

It was a defensive battle that saw Houston shoot just 37.6% from the field and 26.3% from three-point land.

Five Rockets landed in double figures with Alperen Sengun leading the way with 16 followed by Dillion Brooks at 15 and Amen Thompson with 14 off the bench.

Thompson’s fellow dynamic bench partner Tari Eason missed the game due to concussion protocol and it may have ended up being the difference.

Not only was Houston without Eason’s offensive production, he likely would have drawn the defensive assignment of Jonathan Kuminga.

Kuminga scored a career-high 33 points to lead the way for the Dubs. Andrew Wiggins was the only other Warrior in double figures with 23.

Certainly, the Rockets will have to figure out how to respond as they continue their West Coast swing.

Houston travels from Northern California to Southern California, where it will make its first-ever trip to the new Intuit Dome to take on the Clippers.

Golden State and Houston will meet again next Wednesday in the NBA Cup quarter-final at Toyota Center.