Rockets down Warriors to stay alive in NBA playoffs / Photo: EZRA SHAW - GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP
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Rockets down Warriors to stay alive in NBA playoffs
The Houston Rockets rode a crushing fourth quarter to a 115-107 victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday to set up a game-seven showdown in their NBA Western Conference playoff series.
The Rockets will be trying to become just the 14th team to rally from 3-1 down to win an NBA playoff series when they host game seven on Sunday.
Fred VanVleet scored 29 points and Alperen Sengun added 21 points and 14 rebounds for the Rockets, who led most of the game and silenced an 18,000-strong crowd at the Warriors' Chase Center arena with an explosive fourth quarter -- putting together a 12-0 scoring run in the final frame to push their lead to as many as 17.
Amen Thompson added 14 points for Houston and veteran New Zealand big man Steven Adams added 17 points off the bench, connecting on four of four from the floor while providing a formidable defensive presence.
Adams had three of Houston's five blocked shots as the Rockets kept the Warriors' potent offense led by Stephen Curry in check.
Curry scored 29 points, but he connected on just nine of 23 shots from the field and coughed up five turnovers.
Jimmy Butler added 27 points but no other Warriors starter scored in double figures.
"Just make everything tough," VanVleet said of the Rockets' mindset as they took a two-point lead into the fourth quarter. "Obviously we know what they bring to the table.
"You want to make everything tough, contest everything ... I just think our youth and our athleticism can wear on them over the course of the game, and we're able to have some success lately."
Overwhelmed early in game five on Friday, the Warriors got off to a marginally better start, but in a nip-and-tuck first quarter that featured 10 lead changes they never led by more than two.
Brandin Podziemski's steal led to a running layup by Quinten Post that gave Golden State a 21-20 lead with 2:23 remaining in the opening period.
But Houston responded with a three-pointer by Tari Eason, and Eason's steal opened the door for a Jalen Green Dunk that put Houston up 25-21 at the end of the first quarter.
A Curry three-pointer tied it at 46-46 with 1:59 left in the first half, but again the Rockets pulled away to lead 53-48 at halftime.
Houston led 86-84 going into the fourth, but VanVleet drilled a three-pointer in the opening seconds, drawing a foul and making the free throw in a sign of what was to come.
The winners of the series will take on the Minnesota Timberwolves, who ousted the Los Angeles Lakers in five games.
E.Rizzo--MJ
