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The Golden State Warriors failed to rip a game from the Houston Rockets in Texas, losing 112-108 in Game 4. The Rockets controlled the majority of the game and survived a tremendous flurry down the stretch from the champs.
Kevin Durant led the Warriors with 34 points, and Steph Curry added 30 of his own. James Harden answered with 38, and Eric Gordon added 20 points.
This was excellent playoff basketball, and the Rockets fans were in full roar. This is a challenge worthy of a dynasty.
First Half
Curry was aggressive in the first period, asserting his dominance against the Rockets defense.
Stephen Curry Q1: 11 points (5-9 FG), 4 assists.
— Monte Poole (@MontePooleNBCS) May 7, 2019
He looks a lot more like . . . Steph.
End of Q1: Warriors are up 28-25 on the Rockets. Curry is pacing Golden State with 11 points on 5-for-9 shooting.
— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) May 7, 2019
He even busted out this nifty move in the second period.
saucy
— Golden State Warriors (@warriors) May 7, 2019
#NBAonTNT pic.twitter.com/JpRP7Bgszw
But the Rockets exploded in the second quarter, drilling a barrage of threes en route to outscoring the Warriors 36-26 for the period. Houston went 11-of-28 from beyond the arc for the first half, while the Warriors could only muster up 3-of-13 from downtown.
Big Andre Iguodala 3 to close the half. Houston lead trimmed to seven. But Rockets controlled that first half with their physicality.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 7, 2019
Curry had 13 points and 5 assists at haltime, while Durant added 12 points of his own. Harden led the Rockets with 18 points, and he had his step-back jumper working.
Rockets 61, Warriors 54
Second Half
The two teams grappled throughout the second half, as the Warriors refused to concede. The squads battled until the very end, when the Warriors had the ball with 11 seconds to go, down three points.
The champs ran a brilliant play for Durant to get open for a wide open three-pointer at the top. He missed.
The Warriors got the offensive rebound and Durant tapped it back to Steph. Who also missed.
Ball game.
Unfortunately, the Warriors were in too deep of a hole to quite climb out.
The Houston Rockets formula of shooting threes while fighting to the death to make sure the Warriors don’t get three-pointers is effective. They truly are the most lethal threat to the Golden Empire in the West.
James Harden put on an MVP performance tonight.
— Stepfan Raiford (@stepfdelaghetto) May 7, 2019
The Rockets made 17 3-pointers and the Warriors made 8 3-pointers https://t.co/l8saaAIt9E
— Drew Shiller (@DrewShiller) May 7, 2019
They’re going going, back back, to Cali Cali! The series is tied 2-2. Stay tuned to GSoM for deeper analysis of this intense game! I want to hear everyone’s prediction for the rest of the series in the comments; I may be screenshotting for receipts.
LET’S TAKE IT BACK TO THE TOWN, H-TOWN!!!!