Warriors edge Rockets, take Game 1

Stephen Curry (left) shoots over Clint Capela of the Rockets

The Golden State Warriors proved once again why they are the best team in the league today, by taking down the streaking Houston Rockets, 110-106, in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals. With this win, they take a 1-0 lead in the series, which has proven to be crucial in any playoff series.

Stephen Curry, the reigning MVP, was once again dominant in this game, scoring 34 points on an insane 13-of-22 clip from the field, including 6-of-11 from the three-point arc. He also dished out 5 assists and collected 6 rebounds. Shaun Livingston was exceptional for Golden State, scoring a career playoff-best 18 points off the bench, while Klay Thompson, Harrison Barnes and Draymond Green, scoring 15, 14, and 13 point, respectively.

Runner-up MVP James Harden, who was serenaded by the Oracle arena with chants of “over-rated”, silenced the home crowd with 28 points on an efficient 11-of-20 shooting, and also hovered on a triple-double with 11 rebounds and 9 assists. Trevor Ariza, the Rockets’ Game 7 hero, had 20 points, dealing his damage from beyond the arc, hitting 4 of his 5 shots from deep. Josh Smith, another one of Houston’s unsung heroes, had 17 points.

Interestingly, Houston had quite a large lead for the majority of the first half, leading 49-33 5 minutes into the second half, but then they were silenced after that. Golden State went on a massive 25-6 run, capped by a 20-foot step-back fade-away from none other than MVP himself, Curry. After the half, it was 58-55 for Golden State.

It was a close game after that, both teams going back-and-forth. They were trading blow after blow, like some sort of boxing match. Curry and Harden, the undisputed leaders for their teams, led their respective squads in the game, and at one particular point in the fourth quarter, the Bearded One found his rhythm. He made FIVE straight shots from inside the arc, at the expense of Thompson’s defense, heralded as one of the better perimeter defender. Despite that, Golden State kept building at a lead, and at the two-minute mark of the fourth, it was 108-99 for the Warriors. They have clinched Game 1.

James Harden (right) tries to lay it in against Festus

Ezeli

But Houston wouldn’t go down, not without a fight. Smith hit a lay-up to chop the lead to nine, then a turnover from Thompson and a missed shot from Curry in two consecutive possessions led to four consecutive free throws for Smith and Corey Brewer, both of which have struggled from the charity stripe. At 47 seconds, the lead was 108-103 for the Warriors. This was turning out to be a close match.

After a timeout from Steve Kerr, Green missed two straight point blank shots, and then turned it over straight to Ariza. In Houston’s offensive possession, Jason Terry passed it to Trevor Ariza, who hit a three-pointer. 108-106, Golden State. 16.1 seconds. This is still a game.

Terry, and then Harden, committed a foul to stop the clock. However, the person who they sent to the line was Curry, and he subsequently hit two free throws to seal the game for GSW.

The Warriors and Rockets will return to the Oracle Arena at Thursday (Friday PH Time) for Game 2 of the Western Conference Finals.