Nick Young provides lift off bench in Warriors’ Game 1 win over Rockets

HOUSTON — Last week, when Warriors head coach Steve Kerr went out of his way to mention that Nick Young could be a factor against the Rockets, many took to social media to ask a singular question: Steve must be kidding, right?

In Golden State’s Game 1 win Monday night over Houston, Young quieted his critics, coming off the bench to chip in nine points on 3-for-5 shooting from three-point range. It was the type of scoring punch that the Warriors envisioned when they signed him to a one-year, $5.2 million deal last summer.

"I thought Nick’s minutes were important for us," Kerr said. "He did a great job. He’s a good matchup defensively. He’s got size and strength.