The Asian Age

Harden show keeps Rockets alive

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Houston ( Texas, USA), May 26: A play- off careerhigh 45 points by James Harden sparked the Houston Rockets to a 128115 must- win victory Monday over the Golden State Warriors, denying the Warriors an easy path to the NBA final.

The Warriors had a scare and then breathed a sigh of relief after NBA Player of the Year Stephen Curry suffered a bruise to the back of his head after a bad fall in the second quarter but then returned to the game.

Houston got their first win in the series, pulling to 1- 3 in the best- of- seven Western Conference finals and forcing a fifth game on Wednesday in Oakland.

They snapped Golden State’s six- game win streak.

While the Rockets prevented a sweep, no team in NBA history has recov- ered from a 0- 3 deficit to win a play- off series.

Harden made 13- of- 22 shots from the floor, including 7- of- 11 from 3point range, and added nine rebounds and five assists.

The Rockets improved to 4- 0 in play- off games when facing eliminatio­n, the first team with such a post- season run since the 2006 Phoenix Suns.

“We don’t want to go home,” Rockets centre Dwight Howard said. “We came out and played as hard as we could, left it all on the floor and when you do that, good things will happen.”

The West champions will face the Eastern Conference champions in the NBA Finals starting June 4. Cleveland lead Atlanta 3- 0 in the East with Game Four on Tuesday.

The Rockets opened a 120 lead in the first 3: 15 and stretched it to 45- 22 after the first quarter.

Curry’s severe fall came when he leaped into the air as Houston’s Trevor Ariza went up for a shot. Curry soared over Ariza and fell hard onto the floor, landing on the back of his head and neck.

“That was the scariest one because you are in the air for a long time and you know you’re going to hit the floor,” Curry said.

Curry finished with 23 points, including six 3point baskets.

 ?? — AFP ?? Stephen Curry ( left) of the Golden State Warriors in action against Jason Terry of the Houston Rockets during Game Four of their Western Conference final in Houston, Texas, on Monday. The Rockets won 128- 115.
— AFP Stephen Curry ( left) of the Golden State Warriors in action against Jason Terry of the Houston Rockets during Game Four of their Western Conference final in Houston, Texas, on Monday. The Rockets won 128- 115.

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