Rockets Tie the Series, Beat Golden State in Game 4, 112-108

Houston Rockets are back. After losing the opening two games of the series against the Golden State Warriors, the Rockets responded with the same measure at their Toyota Center and leveled the score to 2-2.

Houston won 112-108 tonight in one very physical and rough game, which saw a lot of beating on both sides.

The Warriors had a chance to tie the game, but Kevin Durant at first, and then Steph Curry couldn’t make a three to tie the score with the Rockets leading 111-108.

This is a huge victory for the Rockets who are now feeling much better than five days ago when the series moved from Oakland to Texas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVJoir1HR9U

“I don’t know if you believe in momentum, I don’t even know if there is such a thing, but we feel good about where we are,” said Mike D’Antoni after the game. “Now, it’s two out of three and we got to steal one on the road.”

D’Antoni’s boys were better throughout the match. After a close opening quarter in which Warriors and they exchanged hits, and the first half of the second period, Houston made a 17-4 burst which provided them a 12-point lead, 53-41.

That distance was kept all the way until the late third quarter, when Golden State held the hosts scoreless for two minutes, and cut the deficit to only four points, 86-82.

Houston replied and once more reached a double-digit lead, leading as much as 15 points with 9:12 left in the game. Then again, Rockets went cold and managed to score just nine points in the next nine minutes, while on the other hand, Rockets got to 110-108 after Curry’s three 19.3 seconds before the end.

Harden got fouled and sent to the free throw line immediately after that. The reigning MVP scored just one point, which opened the possibility for the Warriors to tie the score. Kevin Durant missed the first three-point attempt, Steph Curry the second.

https://twitter.com/juniuer/status/1125616588739293184

Chris Paul got the ball, and the game was decided.

“We got a couple of wide-open looks,” Durant said. “They just didn’t fall for us.”

In general, Golden State players were pretty bad from downtown, making just 8 threes in 33 attempts, which is 24.2%. Curry was 4 of 14, Durant 2 of 6 and Klay Thompson 1 of 6.

“I felt we were in the rush offensively, all night, ” said Steve Kerr after the match. “I didn’t think we got great shots for much of the night, we were just in a rush to create pace.”

But that is not the only reason why his team lost. The Warriors got outrebounded for the second game in a row, and that is something which both Kevin Durant and Draymond Green mentioned at the press conference. Houston had 50 rebounds, GSW 43, but the hosts had more second chances to score.

“They had 13 offensive rebounds, and I felt they had a bunch of those late up in the game,” said KD.

PJ Tucker and Clint Capela had 9 of them combined. Tucker finished the game with a double-double 17 points and 10 boards, while Capela had 6 points and 9 rebounds.

Harden dropped 38 points, with 10 rebounds, Eric Gordon added 20, shooting 2 of 12 for three.

Chris Paul’s influence was huge. 13 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists, but not only that, he constantly kept the tension on the court, making this game extremely intense. His physicality spiced the contest, and it seems that he managed to provoke Warriors’ players in several situations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g2IG3YAfESQ

He was hit twice by Durant, and also had a clash with Draymond Green.

KD ended the contest with 34 points and 7 boards. Steph Curry bounced back after bad games and dropped 30 with 8 dishes, but the guy who failed to contribute tonight was Klay Thompson.

He ended the contest with 11 points, shooting 5 of 15.

Series head back to Oakland now, and Game 5 is on this Friday.