Fred VanVleet scored 29 points, Alperen Sengun produced a double-double and the Houston Rockets seized control in the fourth quarter en route to a stunning 115-107 road victory over the Golden State Warriors on Friday, forcing a decisive Game 7 of their Western Conference first-round series.
The Rockets, who extended the series to a sixth game with a 131-116 home win on Wednesday, seized control in the fourth quarter this time and will host Game 7 on Sunday.
Houston stayed alive by clamping down defensively in the final period, with VanVleet keying the offensive surge with a four-point play that opened the frame and extended the Houston lead to 90-84.
After shooting 50 percent from the field and drilling seven 3-pointers in their 36-point third quarter, the Warriors missed 13 consecutive shots in the fourth as the Rockets turned a 12-0 run into a 106-89 lead. Sengun recorded a steal on Jimmy Butler and fed VanVleet for a 3-pointer that fuelled the rally.
“I think people, especially veterans, know the urgency of the playoffs, and it gets monotonous at times through the regular season,” Rockets coach Ime Udoka said while discussing VanVleet.
“Sometimes (they) pace themselves, save themselves for the right moment, and obviously, Fred came out not shooting his best. And he’s had some really good stretches lately. He knows what it is. He’s been a champion. Been there, done that. So wouldn’t expect anything less than that from him.”
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Sengun posted 21 points and 14 rebounds while adding six assists and three steals. VanVleet also recorded eight rebounds and eight assists while making 6 of 9 3-pointers and all nine free-throw attempts. Amen Thompson added 14 points, seven rebounds and three steals while Steven Adams totaled 17 points and three blocks off the bench. Houston finished 33 of 46 at the free-throw line.
Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 29 points, including six 3-pointers, while Butler added 27 points, nine rebounds and eight assists. But Golden State shot just 41.1 per cent from the field and missed 34 3-pointers.
“They were in a zone. They played (Steven) Adams quite a bit. He’s at the center of that zone, kind of a 2-1-2,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said. “I thought we got some good looks against the zone. But then, once they pulled away by 10 or 12, it was easier for them to run us off the line.”
The opening period featured 10 lead changes, two ties and an early flagrant foul by Draymond Green. Sengun and VanVleet combined for 16 points in the first quarter, while Houston committed six turnovers in the period but took a 25-21 lead into the second.
Moses Moody hit a 3-pointer for the Warriors to trim their deficit to 39-35 with just under six minutes to play in the second, but the Rockets responded with a 7-0 spurt.
Curry single-handedly lifted the Warriors back into contention, sinking two 3-pointers, completing a three-point play and adding two free throws for an 11-0 run that tied the score at the 1:59 mark.
Houston reclaimed some control following a dunk by Thompson dunk and Jalen Green’s 3-pointer, forging a 53-48 halftime lead. Butler and Curry combined for 28 points, nine rebounds and five assists in the half to keep the Warriors within striking distance.