Rockets a win from NBA Finals
Rockets move within win of NBA Finals, but Chris Paul status doubtful after late leg injury
HOUSTON—
The Rockets moved within a win of unseating defending NBA champion Golden State Warriors on Thursday after scoring a 98-94 win for a 3-2 lead in the Western Conference finals. Eric Gordon scored 24 points and had the steal that sealed the Rocket’s second straight win. But Chris Paul had to leave the court in the dying seconds
A16 because of a feared hamstring pull. Game 6 is on Saturday in Oakland.
HOUSTON— To honor victims of a school shooting. To have a shot at an NBA Finals berth. To prove that they are a capable defensive team. The Houston Rockets came in and gutted out a victory that meant a lot to the club.
Now, if only Chris Paul’s leg will hold up for one last step needed to make the Finals.
Eric Gordon scored 24 points off the bench and pulled off a crucial steal in the endgame while Paul contributed a lot of leadership and clutch shooting in Houston’s 98-94 victory over Golden State Thursday night to push the Warriors to the brink of elimination. But that closeout victory faces a tough obstacle as Paul had to leave the game in the final minute with a right hamstring injury that could keep him out of Game 6. “His spirits aren’t great,” coach Mike D’Antoni said. “He wanted to be out there, and for sure he’s worried.” Paul was receiving treat- ment after the game and did not speak to reporters.
But history isn’t kind to athletes who suffer from these types of injuries. In the 1989 NBA Finals, the Los Angeles Lakers lost Magic Johnson for the series against the Detroit Pistons due to a pulled hamstring.
The Rockets head to Oakland for Game 6 on Saturday night, when they can knock off the defending champions and advance to the NBA Finals for the first time since winning back-to-back titles in 1994-95.
Kevin Durant scored 29 points for the Warriors, who lost in Game 5 of a playoff series for just the second time since 2015.
“We haven’t been in this position before. So it’s a chapter we need to figure out and finish the story,” Stephen Curry said. The Rockets honored the 10 people killed in last week’s school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas, and the school’s choir performed the national anthem. “Wewanted to come out and give them light, put smiles on their faces (and) clear their minds a little bit,” star James Harden said. And Houston, known for its highpowered offense, did so with defense for a second straight game. No defensive stop was bigger than Gordon’s steal off Draymond Green in the dying seconds to seal the win. “Anybody says to beat Golden State they talk about scoring 120, 130 points,” The Rocket’s PJ Tucker said. “We just feel like we play defense, (lock) down and make it tough for them.” And if the Rockets are able to do that in Game 6 on Saturday night they’ll be on the way to their first NBA Finals since winning consecutive titles in 1994-95.