Warriors fall in Houston, 112-108.

Warriors can’t connect on potential game-tying shots in waning seconds; Rockets knot series

HOUSTON >> The Warriors have four All-Stars, but they could not lean on any of them to make a shot to force overtime.

Shortly after Kevin Durant missed a potential game-tying 3 at the top of the key, Stephen Curry also missed another look.

The result? The Warriors

lost 112-108 to the Houston Rockets in Game 4 of the Western Conference semifinals on Monday night. There are many implications.

The Rockets tied the series, 2-2. They forced a Game 6 here on Friday. And though the Warriors still have homecourt advantage with Game 5 on Wednesday at Oracle Arena, the Warriors look increasingly vulnerable.

Let’s count the ways. The Rockets’ James Harden (38 points), Eric Gordon (20) and P.J. Tucker (17) punished the Warriors. While Durant maintained his prolific play with 34 points, Curry (30) and Klay Thompson (11) combined

for 2-of-10 from 3.

The Rockets’ math played on their side. They shot 17-of-50 from distance, while the Warriors only 8-of-33.

The Warriors’ stars became plagued with foul trouble to Thompson (five) Durant (four), Curry (three), Draymond Green (three) and Andre Iguodala (three). The Warriors could not depend on anyone other than their starting five. And the Rockets won the fight on the boards for a second consecutive game (50-43).

The Warriors hardly sounded worried beforehand about Houston potentially tying the series. They considered it an overreaction to proclaim the series over after the took a 2-0 series lead. Likewise, the Warriors consider it an overreaction to suggest they are on trouble. As plenty of NBA observers say, a series never begins until a team steals a win on the road.

Nonetheless, the Warriors allowed the Rockets to breathe new life into the series. Unlike what they experienced here in a pivotal seventh game last year in the

Western Conference Finals, the Warriors could not overcome adversity.

Paul sank one of two foul shots with 2.9 seconds to go, sealing the Rockets’ win. Houston led by as many as 17 points, claimed a 50-43 rebounding edge and allowed just 11 second-chance points.

Curry missed 10 of 14 3-point attempts while Thompson continued his shooting woes, going 5 of 15 overall and 1 of 6 from deep.

JOSE CARLOS FAJARDO — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER The Warriors’ Stephen Curry loses control of the ball while driving against the Rockets’ James Harden during the first quarter of Game 4.

PHOTOS: JOSE CARLOS FAJARDO — STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER The Warriors’ Andre Iguodala, left, battles the Rockets’ P.J. Tucker for a loose ball during Game 4Monday.

Warriors coach Steve Kerr walks off the court with Kevin Durant after the Warriors lost their second straight game in the series.