The Houston Rockets pulled off a stunning comeback against the Golden State Warriors on Friday night, overcoming a 14-point deficit in the fourth quarter to win 119-114 and advance to the NBA semifinals.
The Rockets, who trailed by as many as 17 points in the third quarter, outscored the Warriors 34-20 in the final period to complete the comeback. James Harden led the way with 41 points, 10 rebounds, and nine assists, while Chris Paul added 22 points and seven assists.
The Warriors, who were seeking their fifth consecutive trip to the NBA Finals, were led by Stephen Curry’s 35 points and Klay Thompson’s 27 points. However, the duo combined for just 10 points in the fourth quarter as the Rockets’ defense stiffened.
The Rockets’ win marked their first series victory over the Warriors since 2015, and it snapped a streak of four consecutive playoff series losses to Golden State. Houston will now face the winner of the Portland Trail Blazers-Denver Nuggets series in the Western Conference semifinals.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with both teams trading baskets and leads throughout. The Warriors appeared to be in control, leading 94-80 with 10 minutes remaining. However, the Rockets went on a 15-2 run to tie the game at 96-96 with 5:30 left.
From there, the Rockets took control, with Harden and Paul making big play after big play. Harden hit a go-ahead three-pointer with 2:30 remaining, and Paul followed with a layup to put the Rockets up 109-104.
The Warriors had one final chance to tie the game, but Curry’s three-pointer from the corner was blocked by Rockets forward P.J. Tucker with 10 seconds left. Harden then sealed the win with a pair of free throws.
The Rockets’ win marked a major upset, as the Warriors were favored to win the series and advance to the NBA Finals. However, Houston’s strong team defense and clutch performances from Harden and Paul proved to be too much for Golden State.
The Warriors, meanwhile, were left to ponder what might have been. Despite having a talented roster, they were unable to overcome their injuries and inconsistency throughout the series.
For the Rockets, the win marked a major milestone in their season. After struggling through injuries and inconsistency during the regular season, they have now advanced to the semifinals for the first time in four years.
