James Harden dribbled down the court with a timeout in hand, down by one in the final ten seconds, but could not get a potential game-winning shot off. The Golden State Warriors' defense shut down the MVP runner-up on the last play to hold off the Houston Rockets 99-98 on Thursday night, taking a 2-0 series lead. Stephen Curry scored 33 points in the win.
The Rockets rallied from 17 points down in the second quarter, just as the Warriors did in game 1 from a 16-point deficit, but Houston could not complete the come back. Harden had the chance to complete it after a missed layup by Harrison Barnes, but did not call a timeout and could not hang on to the ball. The crowd of 19,596 loved the defense of their home team, as they watched the series lead grow to 2-0 in the Western Conference Finals.
Despite the miscue on the last play, Harden finished with 38 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists, while Dwight Howard overcame his knee injury to record a double-double of 19 points and 17 rebounds. Houston is not a stranger to facing series deficits this postseason, as they came back from a 3-1 hole to win their second-round series with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Rockets went on a 23-6 run in the second to come back and tie the game at the half, and then kept it close throughout the second half by forcing 17 turnovers.
Curry made five 3-pointers, while adding six assists and three rebounds on the night. Curry, along with Klay Thompson, defended Harden on the final play to secure the win.
Houston is now 0-6 against Golden State this season. The series shifts to Houston for game 3 on Saturday night, in what seems to be a must-win game for the Rockets.
The Rockets rallied from 17 points down in the second quarter, just as the Warriors did in game 1 from a 16-point deficit, but Houston could not complete the come back. Harden had the chance to complete it after a missed layup by Harrison Barnes, but did not call a timeout and could not hang on to the ball. The crowd of 19,596 loved the defense of their home team, as they watched the series lead grow to 2-0 in the Western Conference Finals.
Despite the miscue on the last play, Harden finished with 38 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists, while Dwight Howard overcame his knee injury to record a double-double of 19 points and 17 rebounds. Houston is not a stranger to facing series deficits this postseason, as they came back from a 3-1 hole to win their second-round series with the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Rockets went on a 23-6 run in the second to come back and tie the game at the half, and then kept it close throughout the second half by forcing 17 turnovers.
Curry made five 3-pointers, while adding six assists and three rebounds on the night. Curry, along with Klay Thompson, defended Harden on the final play to secure the win.
Houston is now 0-6 against Golden State this season. The series shifts to Houston for game 3 on Saturday night, in what seems to be a must-win game for the Rockets.
