James Harden leads Houston Rockets to dramatic overtime win over Golden State Warriors
Sunday 5 May 2019 10:03, UK
James Harden notched 41 points as the Houston Rockets prevailed 126-121 in overtime to beat the Golden State Warriors and claim Game 3 of the Western Conference semi-final series at Toyota Center.
The Beard followed a contested 3-pointer against the shot clock with a challenged floater in the lane to ice the game as Houston cut the series deficit to 2-1.
The reigning NBA MVP, who is a contender for the honour once again this year, finished with 41 points, nine rebounds and six assists to carry the team home after Eric Gordon (30 points) and Clint Capela (13 points, 11 rebounds) held the line in the first half.
Harden drilled a step-back 3-pointer over Andre Iguodala with 49 seconds left in overtime, building the Houston lead to 124-118.
Kevin Durant - who poured in a game-high 46 points on 14-of-31 shooting for Golden State - then answered with three free throws following an Austin Rivers foul, but Harden scored over Draymond Green on the following possession for a decisive five-point lead.
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After Stephen Curry missed an uncontested dunk that would have cut the deficit to three with 19.2 seconds left, the Warriors did not foul and the Rockets secured their first victory of the series.
Durant, who scored 10 consecutive Warriors points to open the fourth quarter, and Green, who notched his sixth career postseason triple-double (19 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists), performed superbly in defeat. Along with Iguodala (16 points, 3 of 4 on three-pointers), that tandem helped the Warriors manage through the poor shooting of Curry and Klay Thompson, who finished a combined 4-for-15 from deep.
Despite the Splash Brothers' struggles, the Warriors had a shot at a 3-0 series lead when Houston went the final 5:09 of regulation without a basket. Durant missed with 19.2 seconds left in regulation, and Thompson tied up Chris Paul in the final seconds to prevent the Rockets from attempting a would-be game-winner.
Gordon kept the Rockets afloat during a ragged start offensively with Golden State leading by as many as nine midway through the first quarter before the former NBA Sixth Man of the Year got some help, first from Capela on the offensive boards and then from Paul down the stretch of the opening period, with his five points cutting the deficit to 26-25 heading to the second.
When the Rockets extended to an 11-point lead in the second, it was Gordon again leading the charge. His steal and layup preceded a three that pushed Houston to a 36-27 advantage, and Gordon closed the first half with 20 points on an impressive 8-of-14 shooting.
It was Harden, though, who decided things down the stretch as the seven-time All-Star finally came alive late to offset strong showings from Green and Durant which kept the Warriors close.
Game 4 takes place in Houston late in the early hours of Monday morning (2.30am).
