By Felicia D. Purcell
Martinez News-Gazette
Coming into Tuesdays game Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni said he hadn’t had too many pressure games this year. He also called his team ‘soft’ after a 41-point blow-up last Sunday.
The pressure was on full tilt and the Rockets played anything but soft on Tuesday snapping the Warriors 16-game playoff win streak at home 95-92 a record dating back to the summer of 2016 when Cleveland beat the Warriors 3-1 in the NBA Finals.
Golden State led by as much 12 but ran out of gas down the stretch with exhaustion playing a huge role but they aren’t making any excuses.
“We had plenty of chances to come down the stretch and win the game,” said Stephen Curry.
The Warriors also lacked the defensive presence of veteran Andre Iguodala who sustained a left lateral leg contusion in Game 3 and is day-to-day.
The capacity crowd of 19,596 saw Stephen Curry finish with 28, Kevin Durant 27, Draymond Green 11 and Klay Thompson 10.
James Harden led the Rockets with 30 and PJ Tucker finished with 16 rebounds.
Head coach Steve Kerr said his team allowed the Rockets to get to the free throw line one too many times.
“I thought was allowed them to hang around. Then they got their confidence, made a lot of free throws, got the lead at halftime and then it was a slog from there.”
Although they lost home court advantage in the best of 7 series Warriors fans need not worry; the series is tied at 2-2.
Steph Curry knows what it takes to win in Houston and says his team is going to reset and put together a solid 48-point game and try to steal one on the road.
“I think the vibe in the locker room is really positive right now when it comes to what we need to correct when it comes to winning Game 5.”
