James Harden outduels Kevin Durant, Rockets pick up critical Game 3 win over Warriors in OT
We can hit pause on those Houston Rockets obituaries.
James Harden and Co. looked like the group that dominated much of the second half of the NBA’s regular as it fed off its home crowd for a 126-121 overtime win to cut the Golden State Warriors’ Western Conference semifinals lead to 2-1 on Saturday.
For a moment, Kevin Durant threatened to spoil the party, going on a personal 10-2 run to start the fourth quarter and turn a seven-point deficit into a 94-93 lead. But the Rockets responded in a back-and-forth final quarter that ended in a 112-112 tie to send the game into overtime.
48 minutes not enough
Chris Paul had a chance to win the game in regulation, but got tied up by Klay Thompson and Durant with 1.5 seconds remaining when he drove the lane in the fourth quarter’s waning moments.
By the time Harden corralled the ensuing jump ball, there wasn’t enough to get off a quality shot.
Harden saves biggest shot for OT
Overtime was another battle as stars from both teams traded shots back and forth for the first three minutes. But Houston picked up stops on consecutive possessions in the final two minutes.
When James Harden stepped back for one of his signature 3-pointers and his biggest shot of the playoffs with 49 seconds remaining, Houston had taken a 124-118 lead that it would not relent.
Harden finished with 41 points, 9 rebounds and 6 assists to counter a 46-point, 6-assist effort from Durant, who continued his quest to convince the NBA that yes, he is the greatest basketball player in the world.
Nothing from Saturday’s loss allayed his case for that mantle. But the night belonged to Harden and the Rockets, who now stand a win away from turning this series into the marquee matchup the league has been anticipating all season.
James Harden: ‘Embrace it’
“It’s gonna be a fight,” Harden told ESPN of the series after the game. “Every possession. Every game. Better be physically tough, mentally tough.
“We know who we’re facing out here. So we better just enjoy it, have fun, embrace it and go out there and compete at a high level.”
Steph’s struggles
As Durant thrived for the Warriors, Stephen Curry struggled, hitting 7-of-23 shots from the field and 2-of-9 3-point attempts to finish with 17 points and 4 assists. He also shot 1-of-3 from the free throw line.
It’s unclear if the dislocated left middle finger Curry suffered in Game 2 impacted his play Saturday.
He put up a pair of uncharacteristic misses in overtime — an open layup after splitting the defense with 1:49 remaining as Houston led 121-118 and an open dunk that got hung on the rim as Houston led by the game’s final margin with 19.2 seconds remaining.
Warriors cede game’s final seconds
Harden picked up the rebound on the missed Curry dunk, and the Warriors waved the white flag, declining to foul as the Rockets ran out the clock.
Klay Thompson wasn’t at his best either, tallying 16 points and 8 rebounds while shooting 6-of-16 from the field. Draymond Green logged a triple-double with 19 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.
As a whole, the Warriors shot well from distance, hitting 14-of-33 attempts (42.4 percent), mostly due to the efforts of Durant (6-of-9) and Andre Iguodala (3-of-4).
Houston wins rebound battle, hot from 3
But the Rockets founds solutions to the problems that plagued them in Game 2, out-rebounding the Warriors 55-35 and turning the ball over 13 times after 17 giveaways in Tuesday’s loss.
They also got a big performance from Eric Gordon, who scored 20 of his 30 points in the first half and hit 7-of-14 3-pointers. Chris Paul tallied 14 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists.
As a team, Houston hit 18-of-42 3-pointers (42.9 percent) while shooting 48.4 percent from the field.
The Rockets still likely need a Game 4 win to give themselves a chance to vanquish their Western Conference nemesis. But for now, staying in striking distance is enough.
They’ll have their chance to tie things up on Monday night.
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