With superstar Stephen Curry a late omission, Andrew Bogut and the rest of the Golden State Warriors stepped up to beat the Houston Rockets and extend their NBA playoffs series lead.
The Warriors won 115-106 on their home court in Oakland on Monday.
It put the top-seeded Warriors up 2-0 in the best-of-seven Western Conference first round series and provides some breathing space while Curry, the reigning NBA MVP who was averaging 30 points a game, overcomes a sprained right ankle.
Curry suffered the injury in game one and was frustrated to be ruled out just before tip-off for game two after cutting his warm up short.
The Warriors led for most of the game, with fellow sharp shooter Klay Thompson making up for Curry's absence offensively with 34 points.
"It's the next man up approach," Thompson said.
"Obviously it's a big void when Steph isn't out there because he's the MVP, best player in the world, but we have a talented group and guys who love to compete."
Bogut, in a battle with Rockets big man Dwight Howard, was a force at both ends of the court.
The Australian centre had 10 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots, including a monster right-handed effort that jammed Howard late in the fourth quarter.
Bogut also altered numerous other Houston shot attempts and set screens for Thompson and the Warriors' other shooters.
"Give credit to Bogut," Houston coach JB Bickerstaff said.
"He's good with his size."
The eighth-seeded Houston were led by James Harden's 28 points and Howard's 12 points and 10 rebounds.
Game four will be in Houston on Thursday.
In other playoff games on Monday, the Eastern Conference second-seeded Toronto Raptors levelled their series 1-1 with the seventh-seeded Indiana Pacers 98-87.
In the Western Conference, Oklahoma City's Kiwi centre Steven Adams was almost the hero when he tipped in a loose ball on the buzzer, but a replay showed he was just too late and Dallas won 85-84.
Third seed Oklahoma City and sixth seed Dallas are also locked 1-1.
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