Warriors defeat Rockets in marquee Western Conference matchup

— -- HOUSTON -- It takes quite a bit to jolt the Golden State Warriors. The defending champions have so much talent that they can lose the 2017 Finals MVP, Kevin Durant, for a key game like Thursday's 127-114 win over the Houston Rockets and still have three All-Stars in the starting lineup.

Or, as Rockets coach Mike D'Antoni put it before the game, "It doesn't affect anything. They'll do what they do. They're still world champions without him."

But the Rockets genuinely stunned the Warriors on opening night in October when the new-look James Harden- Chris Paul backcourt came back from an 11-point deficit in the fourth quarter to beat Golden State on its home court.