Month: May 2018

Warriors destroy Rockets 115-86 to force Game 7

Published on by rxsluggerLeave a comment

Photo credit: @warriors

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Golden State Warriors, with their backs to the wall, fell behind by 17 points in the first quarter. The Rockets, behind James Harden and Eric Gordon, came out blazing and outscored the Warriors 39-22 in the first quarter. The Warriors turned the ball over, and shots were not falling for Golden State. The fans were starting to squirm as it looked as if the Rockets had found the key to their fourth victory in the best-of-seven series.

However, the Warriors started to play better in the second period. Klay Thompson started making shots, and the Warriors improved on defense. They won the quarter 29-21 and trailed Houston 61-51 at the end of the first half.

The Rockets were led by Harden’ 22 points. Eric Gordon made four 3-point shots and finished with 16. Trevor Ariza had 14, and he knocked down two from downtown.

Klay Thompson and Kevin Durant each had 14. Steph Curry had 13, and the Warriors bench did not make a significant contribution.

The Warriors knew that the season was on the line as they started the second half. They had to find a way to stop the Rockets attack and a way to get going on offense.

The Warriors executed that plan to perfection. They started the third quarter on an 11-0 run to take the lead for the first time since early in the game when they lead 4-3. The Rockets’ main man, James Harden, responded by making two 3-pointers to put Houston ahead 69-66.

Thompson hit a three to tie the game at 69. The Rockets rebounded to go up by four points 74-70. It was at this point that the Warriors took control of the game and went on a 14-3 run to end the third period leading 84-77.

The Warriors blew the game open in the fourth quarter when they went on a 27-6 run and held the Rockets to just nine points for the entire period. The Warriors won the game 115-86. They meet the Rockets in Houston Mondy night for the Western Conference title.

Game Notes and Stats: The Warriors were magnificent in the second half. They outscored the Rockets 64-25. They went from being down by 17 and winning by 29. That was quite a turnaround.

The Rockets were without the services of guard Chris Paul, who suffered a hamstring injury in Game 5.

The Warriors’ Andre Iguodala, so needed for his defensive skills, was unavailable for the third game in a row due to a bone bruise. He is day-to-day and may be available Monday.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr felt terribly for Paul — and others who have gone down.

“More than anything, I feel bad for Chris. The guy is a phenomenal player and competitor, and pretty much willed his team the last two games. He’s just been haunted by these types of injuries in his career, and it’s a shame,” Kerr said.

“I hate when anybody gets hurt. I hated when Andre got hurt. I hate to see Kevin Love last night, Kyrie (Irving). These guys train so hard, and they’re here, and they’re competing, and you want everybody to be healthy, but just the reality is it usually doesn’t work out that way. So you’ve just got to keep playing with whoever’s there and keep going.”

After the game, Klay Thompson had this to say about the win: “I don’t want to go home. It shows you what you are made of. We are the best defensive team in the league.

The stats show that the Warriors, as a team, outrebounded the Rockets 47-38. Also, on defense, they had 11 steals and 10 blocked shots. They forced the Rockets to commit 21 turnovers.

On offense, Klay Thompson was on fire. He ended the night with 35 points, and he made nine threes.

Steph Curry finished with 29. Curry made just one three the first half, but he found his shot in the final 24 minutes as he hit four 3-pointers.

Kevin Durant finished with 23. Draymond Green, on offense, scored just nine points but he had nine assists. He was a terror defense. He had 10 rebounds to go along with four steals and five blocked shots.

The Warriors needed the Big Four to produce, and that is exactly what the did as they shut down the Rockets after the first period.

James Harden led the Rockets with 32. Eric Gordon had 19, and Trevor Ariza finished with 14. The Warriors held Harden to 10 points in the second half. Gordon added just three and Ariza was held scoreless. Gerald Green was the only other Rocket in double figures with 11.

Up Next: The deciding game of the West Final series will be Monday night in Houston. Game time will be at 6:00 pm PST.

Stratton put a stop to losing streak as Giants edge Cubs for 5-4 victory

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: sfexaminer.com

By Jeremy Kahn

Chris Stratton put a stop to the San Francisco Giants modest three-game losing streak, and it was the bullpen that held down the fort down the stretch.

Stratton went five innings, allowing three runs on four hits, while walking three and striking out four and the Giants defeated the Chicago Cubs 5-4 at Wrigley Field Saturday night.

As for Stratton, it was his third straight win. He’s now 6-3 on the season.

It was a huge comeback victory for the Giants, who fell behind 2-0 at the end of the second inning, but then Brandon Crawford continued his hot hitting, as he hit a huge two-run home run in the top of the fourth inning that tied up the game.

After the Cubs retook the lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Giants took the lead back for good in the top of the fifth inning, as Andrew McCutchen doubled to centerfield that scored Gorkys Hernandez. Brandon Belt gave the Giants the lead for good, as he singled to center to score McCutchen.

It was the third loss in their last four games for the Cubs, who were swept in a two-game series against the Cleveland Indians earlier this week at Wrigley Field.

Belt added a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh inning to score Hernandez from third base, and Evan Longoria moved up an additional 90 feet to second base.

Hernandez is turning out to be a god send for the Giants, as he recently became the Giants everyday centerfielder, replacing Austin Jackson, who came to the Giants during the offseason from the Cleveland Indians. On the game, Hernandez went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and raised his average to .311 on the season.

The Cubs got within one run in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Anthony Rizzo hit an opposite field single off of Tony Watson to score Kyle Schwarber; however, that would be the closest that the Cubs would get.

Closer Hunter Strickland came on in the bottom of the ninth inning and retired the Cubs in order for his 10thsave of the season.

Stratton gave up three walks in the bottom of the second inning, as the Cubs took a 1-0 lead and look to extend the score; however, a Javier Baez comebacker that Stratton snared and threw to Nick Hundley for the first out of the inning. Jose Quintana then was unable to help out his own cause, as he grounded into double play to end the inning.

Schwarber then extended the Cubs lead in the bottom of the third inning, as he hit his ninth home run of the season.

After Crawford tied up the game with his sixth home run of the season in the top of the fourth inning, Baez gave the Cubs the lead in the bottom of the half of the inning, as he hit his 12th home run of the inning.

The bullpen quartet of Reyes Moronta, Sam Dyson, Watson and Strickland pitched four innings, allowing one run on three hits, not walking a batter and striking out one.

Quintana pitched just 4.1 innings, as he gave up four runs and five hits and saw his record fall to 5-4 on the season.

NOTES: Ty Blach looks for his fourth win of the season on Sunday night, as he takes the mound against Tyler Chatwood, who also looks for his fourth win of the season. Chatwood leads the major leagues with 40 walks on the season.

Buster Posey is currently day-to-day with soreness in his right hip.

Joe Panik, who is out with a sprained left thumb will begin a rehab assignment on Monday with the Sacramento Rivercats.

Alen Hanson, who replaced Panik at second base and was then injured himself with a strained left hamstring will play an extended spring training game on Monday in Arizona, and then will begin a rehab assignment on Wednesday with San Jose.

Madison Bumgarner began his rehab assignment in Sacramento, and pitched 3.2 innings, not allowing a run or a hit, walking one and striking out eight. Bumgarner also went 1-for-1 in his only plate appearance.

Mark Melancon pitched an inning, and struck out a batter in his only inning of work.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Cubs conclude their series in a nationally televised game on ESPN Sunday night at 5:08 pm PST.

Mengden tosses a complete game shutout to lead the A’s to a 3-0 win over the D-backs Saturday

Published on by Charlie O. MalloneeLeave a comment
Joyce HR
Matt Joyce started the scoring with a first-inning leadoff home run Photo: @Athletics

by Charlie O. Mallonee

Daniel Mengden pitched a brilliant game for the Oakland Athletics on Saturday afternoon to lead them to a 3-0 victory and even the series at 1-1 as the teams head into the finale on Sunday. Mengden worked 9.0 – shutout innings giving up just two hits, walking none while striking out five Diamondbacks.

Athletics manager Bob Melvin had nothing but compliments for Mengden and his starting performance Saturday. The skipper did reveal that Chad Pinder’s eighth-inning leadoff home run probably gave Mengden the chance to go for the complete game rather than using a closer in the top of the ninth.

This game was all about the pitching

Oakland

Daniel Mengden

  • That is the only name that will appear in the box score for the A’s. This was his second career shutout. His first came versus Philadelphia on September 17, 2017.
  • Mengden has now won his last three consecutive starts. That is the first time he has done that in his career.
  • Over his last eight starts, Mengden has posted a 1.79 ERA while striking out 31 in 50.1 innings pitched.
  • Mengden threw 102 pitches of which 76 were strikes.
  • The key pitching stat for the game is zero Base on Balls.
  • Mengden is now 5-4 on the season with a 2.85 ERA.

Arizona

Clay Buchholz

Buchholz
Clay Buchholz took the loss but pitched very well for D-backs Photo: @Dbacks
  • This was his second start for the Diamondbacks. He started versus the Mets on May 20 but did not figure into the decision.
  • It looked like it would be a short outing for Buchholz when Matt Joyce his the first pitch of the game over the right-field wall into the seats for a “no doubt about it” home run to give the Athletics a quick 1-0 lead.
  • Buchholz then settled down and proceeded to retire the next 15 Oakland hitters he faced. The next A’s batter to reach base was Chad Pinder who hit a double deep into center-field but Buchholz was able to get out of the inning stranding Pinder at third base.
  • The D-backs lifted Buchholz after 6.0-innings of work. He allowed the one run (earned) on just two hits. He walked none and struck out three batters.
  • Buchholz was charged with the loss and his record falls to 0-1 for the year.

Jorge De La Rosa

  • De La Rosa replaced Buchholz in the bottom of the seventh inning.
  • After inducing Jed Lowrie to fly out to center, Matt Olson hit a 2-2 pitch over the center-field fence that bounced around in the television camera box for his eighth home run of the season. That gave the A’s a 2-0 lead.
  • De La Rosa was able to finish the inning without giving up any additional runs.

Fernando Salas

  • Salas was the third and final pitcher used by Arizona in the game. He came in for the bottom of the eighth to face the leadoff man Chad Pinder. Pinder hit the first pitch from Salas over the center-field fence for his fifth home run of the year to give Oakland a 3-0 lead.
  • Salas did give up one additional hit – a double to Marcus Semien – but he was able to close out the inning without allowing any additional scoring.

It was home run or nothing game

Athletics

  • Those “Swingin’ A’s” scored all three of their runs off home runs.
  • Matt Joyce hit his sixth HR of the season. His first leadoff shot of the year and the ninth of his career
  • Matt Olson hit his eighth round-tripper of the year and it was his first HR to be hit off a lefthand pitcher this season.
  • Chad Pinder who hit his fifth home run of the season in the bottom of the eighth inning had the only multi-hit game for Oakland. He hit a double to leadoff the sixth inning for the A’s.
  • Marcus Semien recorded his 12th double in the contest.

Diamondbacks

  • The D-backs had two hits in the game. Both were singles.

 

Up Next on the Schedule

Up next game

The Diamondbacks and the Athletics will close out their three-game series with the “rubber game” of the match on Sunday at 1:05 PM. The real surprise here is Oakland will be starting RHP Frankie Montas who has been called up from Triple-A Nashville. Montas has spent the entire season with the Sounds appearing in nine games recording a record of 1-5 with an ERA of 4.39 in 41.0-innings on the mound. He has struck out 33, walked 13 and allowed five home runs. His WHIP is 1.34. The transaction will not become official until tomorrow morning.

Montas will face the crafty RHP veteran Zack Greinke. Greinke is 3-3 on the year with a 3.71 ERA.

Charlie O
My namesake was at the game! Photo: @Athletics

NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Matt Harrington: Playoffs were unbelievable and the NHL Finals should be one for the ages

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin is tied up with Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nate Schmidt as players come together after a third period play during the regular season at T-Mobile Arena (File Photo: Stephen R. Sylvanie, USA TODAY Sports)

On the NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Matt Harrington:

#1 Here it is the Stanley Cup Finals and the Vegas Golden Knights goes up against the Washington Capitals for Game 1 Monday night at the T-Mobile Center in Vegas.

#2 Who to look for on Vegas in the Finals: The Knights’ center Jonathan Marchessualt who has had a great postseason and one of the key reasons why the Knights are where they are with eight goals and 10 assists and one of Vegas’ best offensive weapons.

#3 The Knights’ left winger William Karlsson and right winger Alex Tuch both have six goals amongst them. How do you see them matching up against Caps.

#4 The Caps have a potent offense in their own right with post season numbers from Evegeny Kuznetsov 11 goals, Alex Ovechkin 12 goals, and TJ Oshie seven goals.

#5 So the moment of truth, the countdown to Monday at the T-Mobile Center–the Vegas Knights and the Washington Caps. Joe talks about how this matchup will play out.

Matt Harrington does the NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Down-and-Out D’Backs: Arizona finally wins one, beats the A’s 7-1 at the Coliseum

Published on by moepeaLeave a comment

By Morris Phillips

OAKLAND–After losing 13 out of 14, and falling out of first place in the NL West, the Arizona Diamondbacks arrived at the Oakland Coliseum on Friday either desperate, panicked or totally focused.

Or completely relaxed.

If the D’Backs’ collective mindset was the latter, first baseman Paul Goldschmidt–hitting just .200 and enveloped in the worst slide of his eight-year big league career–personified it the best. Goldschmidt simply suited up and went back to work, re-energized after a rare Thursday off.

And the A’s Sean Manaea was made to pay, roughed up by Arizona as the Diamondbacks built a 6-1, fourth inning lead on their way to a 7-1 win. Goldschmidt got help from the A’s Chad Pinder, who made an ill-advised dive at Goldy’s base hit, only to see it turn into a two-run triple in the fourth.

“It’s been a rough couple of weeks for us and it’s good to come out and get that early lead there and be able to tack on a few,” Goldschmidt said.

The Diamondbacks won easily for the first time since April 26. The A’s lost for the third time in four games at home–after a four-game road sweep in Toronto supposedly built momentum.

Patrick Corbin limited the A’s to a run on four hits in seven innings, with Mark Canha’s solo shot in the third Oakland’s only dent in the scoreboard. The A’s were limited to just two extra-base hits while collectively striking out 10 times. With Corbin dealing, it made for a quiet night at the Coliseum.

Meanwhile, Arizona put it together at the plate, after seeing their team batting average drop to .213, the major league’s worst.

“Guys came after the off day ready to go and we put some good swings on some good, hittable pitches,” shortstop Nick Ahmed said.

“You know at some point in time that’s going to end because they’re too good to go through long stretches like that,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said after looking at the recent numbers of the slumping D’Backs.

Manaea is 1-3 with an ERA over seven in May, after he posted a no-hitter and won the American League Pitcher of the month in April. On Friday, too many pitches over the plate were Manaea’s downfall.

“Just falling behind guys and just not really trusting my stuff right now,” Manaea said.

The A’s resume play with Arizona on Saturday with Clay Buchholz facing Oakland’s Daniel Mengden at 1:05 pm PST.

Earthquakes get shut out by Galaxy 1-0 in California Clasico

Published on by smallforceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @LAGalaxy

By Pearl Allison Lo

CARSON, Calif. — It took a while, but Romain Alessandrini became the hero as Los Angeles won in the 82nd minute and defeated the San Jose Earthquakes in the first 2018 California Clasico at the StubHub Center Friday night.

Right after the Quakes made their first substitution in the 82nd minute, Alessandrini, who was tearful after, made the game’s first shot on target and converted.  It would be his third shot, a team-high. The last time Alessandrini scored was March 4th, the first game of the season.

It was close to being a different story though. In the 89th minute, the Quakes’ Danny Hoesen most likely would have had his fourth goal in a row, if goalie David Bingham did not deflect the ball, which hit the crossbar after. That was the only other shot on goal.

It was the Galaxy’s second 1-0 win in a row. The last time San Jose was blanked was May 5th. Both teams were struggling coming into the game in their last five.

Quakes’ coach Mikael Stahre evaluated the game, “…it was quite a good game. I think it was a game with lots of intensity and passion and I think we stood up in a good way and…we deserve at least a tie this evening.

Both teams were sporting the same uniform before the game, in support of the Major League Soccer’s Soccer For All initiative.

The first half saw a total of five shots. Attempts on both sides were matched by opposing players. The Quakes’ Vako had the most shots with three, but all were blocked.

Los Angeles’ Chris Pontius had a just wide header in the seventh minute.  

One of Vako’s shot hit Emrah Klimenta in the arm in the 21st minute, but there was no call.  

Shots picked up in the second half with a total of nine for the Galaxy and five for San Jose, but the defenses remained stalwart.

Alessandrini fell on his way to the net in the 51st minute.

Los Angeles’ Giovani dos Santos, who was questionable with an undisclosed injury, entered the game in the 75th minute.

When Vako was subbed out, he was the only player for San Jose with a shot, a total of five. At the end, Hoesen had two and Magnus Eriksson had one more.

Game Notes: Changes from last game for the Quakes were Shea Salinas, Vako and Chris Wondolowski put in the starting lineup.

The Galaxy were without a suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Up Next: San Jose will look to right their ship when they face the Chicago Fire Saturday June 2 at 5:30 pm PST.

NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Joe Lami: Vegas and Washington could go seven games; Finals start Monday night in Vegas

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

photo from the detroitfreepress.com: The Vegas Golden Knights defenceman Colin Miller (6) catches a stick on the nose as Washington Capitals right winger Devante Smith-Pelly (25) both battle on the glass during the second period of Sun Feb 4th’s game in Washington

On the NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcast with Joe Lami:

#1 Here it is the Stanley Cup Finals and the Vegas Golden Knights goes up against the Washington Capitals for Game 1 Monday night at the T-Mobile Center in Vegas.

#2 Who to look for on Vegas in the Finals: The Knights’ center Jonathan Marchessualt who has had a great postseason and one of the key reasons why the Knights are where they are with eight goals and 10 assists and one of Vegas’ best offensive weapons.

#3 The Knights left winger William Karlsson and right winger Alex Tuch both have six goals amongst them. How do you see them matching up against Caps.

#4 The Caps have a potent offense in their own right with post season numbers from Evegeny Kuznetsov 11 goals, Alex Ovechkin 12 goals, and TJ Oshie seven goals.

#5 So the moment of truth, the countdown to Monday at the T-Mobile Center–the Vegas Knights and the Washington Caps. Joe talks about how this matchup will play out.

Joe Lami does the NHL Stanley Cup Finals podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Hendricks, Cubs send Giants to third straight loss

Published on by Sports Radio ServiceLeave a comment

Photo credit: @playtheapp1

By Jeremy Kahn

After opening their three-city, nine-game road trip against the defending World Champion Houston Astros, the San Francisco Giants moved onto the winners of the 2016 World Series champion Chicago Cubs for their next series.

Kyle Hendricks gave up just one run on two hits in seven innings of work, as the Cubs defeated the Giants 6-2 at Wrigley Field.

Hendricks, who improved to 4-3 on the season, struck out seven and walked two, as the Cubs bounced back from a two-game sweep against the Cleveland Indians on a high note.

This was the Giants third straight loss to open the road trip, and have been outscored 21-5 through their first three games with five games remaining.

Gorkys Hernandez picked up two of the four Giants hits on the afternoon, including a leadoff home run in the top of the fourth inning that broke up Hendricks’ perfect game.

Evan Longoria picked up a RBI single in the top of the ninth inning that scored Brandon Belt, who singled, then advanced to second on indifference and then scored the Giants first run since the fourth inning when Longoria singled off of Pedro Strop.

The Cubs broke the game wide open in the bottom of the seventh inning, when they ended Holland’s day. Will Smith gave up a two-run double to Ben Zobrist, and then Cory Gearrin gave up a two-run single to Kris Bryant. Former Oakland A’s prospect Addison Russell hit a RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning for their final run of the afternoon.

Strop retired the first batters of the inning, but then Belt and Longoria picked up back-to-back hits for another run. That was the end of the day for Strop, as Joe Maddon turned the ball over to Brian Duensing, who eventually walked Brandon Crawford.

That was all for Duenisng, as Maddon brought on his closer, Brandon Morrow, who struck out the returning Mac Williamson to end the game and picked up 11thsave in 12 opportunities this season.

Holland allowed three runs (two of them earned) in six innings of work, and allowed five hits before being replaced by Smith. Before being replaced, Holland hit Javier Baez and then walked Ian Happ.

NOTES: Chris Stratton looks to stop the Giants three-game losing streak, as he takes the mound against the Cubs Jose Quintana.

Madison Bumgarner looks to begin his rehab assignment on Saturday for the Sacramento Rivercats, where he will throw approximately 45 pitches. Joe Panik is making progress and could begin a rehab during the Giants road trip that will end on Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.

UP NEXT: The Giants and Cubs meet again for Game 2 Saturday at 4:15 pm PST on FOX.

Giants hope to bounce back in Chicago against Cubs

Published on by jeremy2878Leave a comment

Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Harness

So the Warriors and the Giants have something in common after Thursday: they will both hope to get bounce-back efforts after being humbled in the city of Houston.

The Warriors are facing elimination from the NBA playoffs after a loss to the Rockets in the Toyota Center on Thursday and will head home in search of answers. The Giants, on the other hand, had the day off on Thursday and have had a full day to process what happened to them.

Thankfully for the Giants, they don’t have to win their very next game to keep their season alive, but they do need to find a way to get things back on track after dropping two straight games to the Astros at Minute Maid Park.

That starts with a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs inside of Wrigley Field, which starts Friday afternoon.

The Giants will start the series with left-hander Derek Holland (2-5, 4.94 ERA) on the mound against Chicago righty Kyle Hendricks (3-3, 3.40 ERA). Holland has lost two of the last three decisions, the latest being a 6-1 loss at the hands of the Rockies last Friday, during which he surrendered four runs on six hits, walking one and striking out three.

Hendricks, meanwhile, also gave up four runs on six hits in his last outing, a 5-4 loss at Cincinnati last Friday, but he got away with a no-decision. However, he enters Friday’s matchup having dropped two of his past three decisions as well.

Chris Stratton (5-3, 4.92 ERA) will take the ball on Saturday opposite Cubs lefty Jose Quintana (5-3, 4.47 ERA). Stratton has won three of his last four, as he beat Colorado last Saturday, 8-4, after giving up four runs on eight hits.

Quintana has won two of his past three decisions, his last outing being a dominant performance at Cincinnati last Saturday that saw him give up only a single hit over seven innings in a 10-0 win.

To close out the series, lefty Ty Blach (3-4) will take the hill against Chicago righty Yu Darvish (1-3).

Rockets take Game 5 with 98-94 win, go up 3-2 on Warriors in West Finals

Published on by jhawkes51Leave a comment

Photo credit: nba.com/warriors

By Joe Hawkes-Beamon
SRS Contributor

HOUSTON — The Rockets took advantage of 18 turnovers by the Warriors, the final pivotal one coming off Draymond Green’s leg with under 10 seconds remaining and Eric Gordon knocked down two free throws to perserve a 98-94 victory in Game 5 of the West Finals at the Toyota Center Thursday night to take a 3-2 lead in the best-of-7 series.

“We were suppose to score and I lost the ball, ” Green said to reporters postgame.

More importantly, it puts the defending NBA Champions on the brink of elimination as the series shifts to Oakland for a “win-or-go-home” Game 6 Saturday night at Oracle Arena. Tip off is at 5:00 p.m. PT.

After defeating the Rockets by 41 points in Game 3, the Warriors have lost back-to-back games for the first time this postseason. The postseason is not the best time of year to start going on a losing streak. The Rockets snapped Golden State’s NBA postseason-record 16-game home winning streak in Game 4.

Eric Gordon led the Rockets with 24 points off the bench on 6-of-15 shooting. In fact, the Rockets bench outscored the Warriors’ reserves 33-4 in Game 5. Gordon connected on 9-of-10 from the free throw line.

Chris Paul finished with 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists, but was just 6-of-19 shooting from the floor, including starting 0-of-7 in the first-half. Paul left the game in the final minutes after injuring his right hamstring after coming down on the foot of Warriors’ reserve guard Quinn Cook.

After the game, it was reported that Paul will be re-evaluated Friday and his status for Game 6 is unclear.

James Harden also struggled, shooting just 5-of-21 from the field (0-for-11 on 3s) and finishing with 19 points. Like Gordon, Harden did most of his damage from the free throw line, converting 9-of-9 free throws.

“We had to rely on our defense once again,” Harden said. “Game 4, we weren’t making shots but defensively we were really good. Same thing tonight.”

Center Clint Capela finished with 12 points and 14 rebounds for his seventh double-double of the postseason. Capela had three of Houston’s eight offensive rebounds.

As a team, Golden State had just three offensive rebounds.

Four Warriors finished in double-figures, led by Kevin Durant’s team-high 29 points. Klay Thompson added 23, Stephen Curry scored 22 and Green finished with 12 points and 15 rebounds.

Golden State played solid defense, limiting Houston to 37.2-percent shooting from the floor, but the aforementioned 18 turnovers led to 18 points by the Rockets. That can’t happen if you’re a championship team that prides itself on solid execution like Golden State has done during this four-year run under head coach Steve Kerr.

“I feel great about where we are right now,” Kerr said postgame. “I know that sounds crazy but I feel it. I know exactly what I’m seeing out there…we defended them well tonight. Just too many turnovers, too many reaches.

“If we settle down a little bit, we’ll be in really good shape.”

Durant shot 8-of-22 from the floor, including 3-of-6 from behind the three-point arc, and was 10-of-10 from the free throw line. For the series, Durant is perfect at the charity stripe, shooting 37-of-37 from the free throw line.

For the second straight game, the Warriors were without Andre Iguodala who has been dealing with a left knee contusion. Iguodala suffered the injury after bumping knees with Harden in Game 3. Many believe that since Iguodala has been out, it has thrown off the Warriors’ game since Iguodala is who Kerr affectionately calls, the “adult in the room” for his ability to keep the team calm during critical stages of the game.

“He’s dying to play, but he’s not healthy enough,” Kerr said. “We’ll just continue to take it day to day.”

The game itself was a tight one, with no lead greater than six points. At halftime. the game was tied, 45-45 and the two teams stayed within three points of each other throughout the third quarter.

Golden State suffered just their second Game 5 lost in a playoff series since 2015.

If the Warriors were to lose Game 6 on Saturday night, they would miss out the NBA Finals for the first time since 2014.

The Warriors’ backs are firmly pressed against the wall but the defending NBA wouldn’t have it any other way.