warriors vs rockets recap (Photo: still shot of TNT broadcast)
ORACLE ARENA, OAKLAND, CA — What an incredible game. So many facets to it, and usually one of the major storylines is another return to the Bay Area for the Houston Rockets‘ Jeremy Lin.
But that would take a major backseat to the arrival of the Golden State Warriors‘ latest acquisition of Steve Blake, the ballyhooed backup at point guard now to Stephen Curry.
Blake hit a three-pointer at the end of the first quarter buzzer. Let’s not forget, David Lee contributed yet another double-double.
The nationally televised game also went into overtime, with Curry’s dramatic layup over Dwight Howard and Jermaine O’Neal playing solid defense throughout, capped by a block of Chandler Parson‘s dunk attempt, to save the one-point victory for the Warriors. Here are the sights and sounds…
PRE-GAME
It started with the anticipation of Blake. Yahoo Sports NBA beatwriter Marc Spears posted an early picture. We got a chance to witness “wettin’ jumpers” pregame as well.
It was also Social Media Night, and we tried to catch a shot of Klay Thompson in his new shooting shirt, since his shirt from last year’s event had Brandon Rush‘s Twitter handle. Thompson rejoined Twitter earlier this week. As we tracked him down, we also saw him hit 19 straight left-corner treys. He missed the 20th and was mad.
At the pregame press conference, Coach Mark Jackson said it doesn’t really matter how you label Blake, as a 1 or 2, because Jackson encourages everyone to push the basketball, anyways. Back on the court, Jeremy Lin was signing autograph for his ever-present Bay Area fans.
Kevin McHale on Andre Iguodala: “He’s given us a lot of trouble defensively…”
IN-GAME
#Rockets 22, #Warriors 16, Q1, 2:22. #Roaracle gives Blake a standing O and Blake’s first bucket as a #Warriors player.
#Rockets 24, #Warriors 20, as Blake nails a three at the end of the quarter. #Warriors 37, #Rockets 34, Q2, 5:30. Lee’s already collected 13 points, 7 rebounds.
Here’s an impressive courtside shot of Thompson:
Curry with the astouding double fly-by. #Warriors 47, #Rockets 43, halftime and Lee had 17 points, 9 rebounds, while Curry added 5 points, 5 assists.
#Warriors 71, #Rockets 67, at end of the third. Lee had 21 points, 14 rebounds by now but James Harden was also revving with 20 points. Meanwhile, Warriors great Al Attles was acknowledged for his Hall Of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award.
#Warriors 81, #Rockets 81, Q4, 2:31, as O’Neal takes a big charge to help the cause. #Warriors 87, #Rockets 87, Q4, 0:34.1, Warriors with the ball.
Curry ties it up, #Roaracle erupts.
Courtside reply of Curry’s game-tying layup. Notice O’Neal had a key screen on the play:
Block a shot, save a game, become one with #Roaracle. O’Neal absorbing the glory and fans celebrate like crazy.
POST-GAME
We took the time to interview Lin about Curry and vice-versa. We’ll have that story up soon, but here’s O’Neal: “One of the better wins for us this year,” despite #DubNation fearing Howard prior to tipoff, without a big body like Andrew Bogut (still out with the reaction to the cortisone shot which was for a stiff shoulder).
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
