Photo credit: @warriors
By Daniel Dullum
Sports Radio Service
Monday, May 28, 2018
For the fourth consecutive year, the Golden State Warriors are headed to the NBA Finals. The Warriors got there, marching on a newly-laid road of red bricks, courtesy of the Houston Rockets.
As they do so often, the Warriors exploded out of the halftime break. Combined with Houston’s cold streak from behind the arc, Golden State caught fire offensively and defeated the Rockets 102-92 in Game 7 of the NBA Western Conference Finals Monday at the Toyota Center.
And, for the fourth straight season, the Warriors will meet Cleveland in the NBA Finals. Game 1 is Thursday in Oakland at 6 pm PST.
For the second game in a row, the Rockets suffered a second-half collapse, playing without injured guard Chris Paul (hamstring). In Games 6 and 7, the Warriors outscored Houston 122-63 in the second half.
Kevin Durant poured in 34 points for the Warriors, and Stephen Curry sparked yet another third-quarter rally, finishing with 27 points – 14 in the third quarter. Klay Thompson added 19 points, and Draymond Green had 10 points, 13 rebounds and five assists.
The Rockets missed 27 straight 3-point attempts, while Golden State overcame a 15-point deficit in the second quarter, surging ahead to stay with a 21-7 run to open the second half.
Houston wound up 7-of-44 on 3’s; James Harden was 2-of-13, Eric Gordon was 2-of-12, and Trevor Ariza missed all nine 3-point attempts.
Harden led the Rockets with 32 points, Clint Capela added 20 points and 12 rebounds, and Tucker finished with 14 points and 12 boards, as the 1-seed Rockets fell short in their bid to return to the Finals for the first time since 1995.
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