Photo credit: @warriors

By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Tuesday, May 22, 2018

On the heels of Houston’s most lopsided NBA playoff loss in team history, the Rockets withstood powerful runs from Golden State and outlasted the Warriors 95-92 in Game 4 of the Western Conference finals at Oracle Arena Tuesday night.

It was the first home court loss for Golden State since 2016. The best-of-seven is tied at 2-2. Game 5 is Thursday at Toyota Center in Houston.

The Rockets surged ahead at 2:27 of the fourth quarter on Eric Gordon’s 3-pointer, as Houston finished with a 21-4 run. Golden State had a chance to tie the game with 0.5 seconds remaining, but Steph Curry’s catch-and-shoot attempt rimmed out at the horn.

Houston held the Warriors to 12 points in the fourth quarter, as Golden State shot a miserable 3-of-18 from the field (17 percent, plus six missed 3-pointers) – its worst shooting quarter of the season, according to ESPN Stats & Info. It also tied the team-low for any postseason quarter since the shot clock was introduced in 1954.

Meanwhile, Paul scored eight of his 27 points in the fourth – 13 in the second half. Harden scored 24 of his 30 points in the first half.

Golden State opened the game with a 12-0 run, but the Rockets’ Chris Paul and James Harden outscored the Warriors 29-18 in the second quarter. Houston led by seven at halftime.

The Warriors, Curry in particular, roared out of the halftime break, outscoring Houston 34-17 in the third quarter, a stretch sparked by five 3-pointers by Curry. Two minutes into the fourth, Golden State led 82-70, but the Warriors also committed 16 turnovers.

Curry led Golden State with 28 points, including 6-of-13 on 3’s. Kevin Durant was next with 27 points and 12 rebounds. Draymond Green was two assists shy of a triple-double, finishing with 11 points, 13 rebounds, eight assists, two steals and a block.

The Warriors were without Andre Iguodala, who was held out due to a left leg contusion. There’s no word on Iguodala’s status for Game 5.