ORACLE ARENA, OAKLAND, CA — Three nights after taking a 3-1 lead in the first round of the 2016 NBA Playoffs, the Golden State Warriors were back at home for an elimination game against the Houston Rockets.
The Warriors were without Stephen Curry, who was given a two-week timeframe for his sprained MCL — suffered in Game 4 — two days ago when general manager Bob Myers held a press conference.
Shaun Livingston would start in Curry’s place. Also out was Kevon Looney (left hip surgery).
The Rockets were without Sam Dekker (back) again and head coach J.B. Bickerstaff announced that there would be no changes to his starting lineup.
1st Quarter – Kerr System
The Rockets won the opening tip and, to a chorus of boos, Patrick Beverley brought the ball up, then Dwight Howard missed a lefty hook over Andrew Bogut.
The Warriors came down and Klay Thompson worked without the ball, eventually getting a curl on the right arc for a catch-and-shoot trey, delivered by Draymond Green:
Klay gets an open look early on TNT! #NBARapidReplay #WARRIORSvROCKETS https://t.co/B0SsKFsTX4
— NBA (@NBA) April 28, 2016
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After Howard missed a push shot over Bogut, Green made nearly the same catch-and-shoot, with Bogut providing the assist this time from the top.
Bickerstaff took a quick timeout to calm things down for Houston, as the Warriors jumped out to a 6-0 lead.
But after the timeout, the Warriors kept the heat on, although the Rockets in the persona of James Harden, hit shots. Harden went 5-for-6 from the field.
Golden State went 7-for-9 and after a dish at the rim from Green to Livingston…
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…another three by Thompson, some free throws and jumpers by Livingston, a Harrison Barnes dribble-and-pop, a dish at the rim from Green to Bogut, and Beverley losing the ball resulting in a runout layup for Klay, Bickerstaff had to call another timeout with 5:39 remaining and the Warriors up, 23-14.
A “Warriors!” chant ensued.
After the timeout, Livingston got another dunk at the rim, this time supplied by a dribble drive by Thompson…
Dishing on @csnauthentic and @nbaontnt. pic.twitter.com/YeBWU77E6d
— GoldenStateWarriors (@warriors) April 28, 2016
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…Howard missed again inside, and Klay hit a triple from the top on another catch-and-shoot.
Josh Smith miss from beyond the arc up top, Howard got called for a foul on the rebound, and Warriors head coach Steve Kerr used a timeout to bring in his first major rotation with Festus Ezeli and Ian Clark checking in.
#Roaracle broke into another “Warriors” chant.
Out of this timeout, Clark picked Harden’s drive from behind on help, which turned into an Andre Iguodala-to-Clark finish at the other end.
Later, Clark got another steal as Harden’s pass to a picking-and-rolling Michael Beasley went behind him, and Clark got fouled on the transition.
Draymond benefitted with a catch-and-shoot triple assisted by Iguodala on the ensuing possession, and the Warriors sported a 35-16 lead with under a minute to play.
After a “Hack-An-Andre” in which Iguodala sank both throws, Marreese Speights checked in, missed a right-corner three, then Jason Terry missed a three over Green at the buzzer, and Golden State held a 37-20 lead
The Warriors shot 14-for-22 in the opening frame, going 5-for-9 downtown with Klay leading the way with 11 points, Livingston adding 10. Draymond tallied 5 of Golden State’s 12 assists on those 14 made field goals. Meanwhile, the Rockets shot just 6-for-23, although Harden amassed 18 points and hit all 6 of those makes.
2nd Quarter – Clicking
Speights started the second stanza with a long two-pointer, then Kerr put Brandon Rush in and Rush immediately delivered, getting right-side layup after an upfake, to drop.
Speights blocked a Howard attack, the Rockets reset on the out-of-bounds, Trevor Ariza missed a straightaway three, and Livingston got the rebound, drove the ball up, and hit a jumper in early offense, giving the Warriors a 45-28 lead with 6:56 left.
Beasley then got pinned on the glass by Draymond, Bogut rebounded, outlet to Livingston, who outlet to Green, and he found Rush in the left corner for a toilet-boil triple, and the Warriors took a strangle-hold on the game with a 48-28 lead with 6:37 remaining:
DEFENSE ➡ OFFENSE ? https://t.co/zmQQRGloAA
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 28, 2016
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James McAdoo celebrated from the bench:
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But the Warriors committed a couple turnovers and couldn’t keep the momentum going. Even as Livingston powered through a high pinch post by Green, which Livingston passed up an entry for a layup in traffic, and Draymond added a left-side attack goaltended by Howard, Golden State’s lead got pared down to 52-37.
Then on a miss by Donatas Motiejunas, Green and Howard got tangled up and were issued a double-technical. On the next timeout, Curry argued with the referee:
#StephCurry argues the double tech during the timeout. From our Snapchat?"letsgowarriors"… #Warriors–#Rockets pic.twitter.com/wtJK9qZNRA
— Poor Man's Commish (@poormanscommish) April 28, 2016
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With 2:00 remaining, Klay made a tough jumper in Ariza’s face, then Howard went too hard with the lefty and Green went coast-to-coast for the “and-one” and the flex:
Draymond coast-to-coast AND ONE! ? https://t.co/EiGkx83q0f
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) April 28, 2016
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That put the Warriors back up by twenty, 57-37.
Iguodala also went coast to coast as Harden missed a jumper. On the break, Barnes trailed and got a perfect bounce pass from Iguodala for the layup.
Draymond blocked an attack by Howard, Klay missed a three, and Corey Brewer shanked a runner at the buzzer, and the Warriors took a 59-37 lead at halftime.
Harden led all scorers with 25 of Houston’s 37 points, while Livingston led Golden State with 14 points, Thompson added 13, and Green 11 points and 6 assists.
(Photo: @letsgowarriors Instagram account via @mr_lawrence87)
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