Stephen Curry leads Golden State Warriors past Houston Rockets and into NBA Finals
Tuesday 29 May 2018 06:48, UK
The Golden State Warriors erased a 15-point deficit and claimed Game Seven of the Western Conference finals with a 101-92 victory over the Houston Rockets on Monday at Toyota Center in Houston.
Stephen Curry scored 14 of his 27 points in the third period as the Warriors secured their fourth consecutive berth in the NBA Finals.
"This is a situation we've never been in before. To win a Game Seven on the road, keep our composure for the whole series," Curry said post-game on TNT.
"All those hurdles and obstacles, we got over them, so it's an unbelievable feeling. Winning a championship is hard, so this is a testament to that."
The championship series begins on Thursday in Oakland, California, with the Cleveland Cavaliers representing the Eastern Conference.
The same two teams met in the previous three Finals, with Golden State winning the title in 2015 and 2017 and Cleveland emerging as the champion in 2016.
Golden State, after trailing by 11 points at the intermission, outscored the Rockets 33-15 in the third period. The Warriors posted a plus-68 scoring margin in the third quarters for the series.
"The second half was unbelievable," Curry said. "This atmosphere is crazy."
The Rockets fashioned their half-time lead on effort, both defensively and on the glass, but when their offence collapsed in the third quarter, their verve dissipated.
Houston shot 24 percent (six of 25) in the third and missed all 14 of its three-point attempts. Curry, meanwhile, finished the frame five of six from the floor while draining four of five from beyond the arc as the Warriors shot their way to the lead.
Kevin Durant totalled 34 points, five rebounds and five assists for the Warriors, and Klay Thompson chipped in 19 points despite early foul trouble.
Curry also produced nine boards, 10 assists and four steals.
James Harden posted 32 points, six rebounds, six assists and four steals for the Rockets, who again were without guard Chris Paul with a right hamstring strain.
